Through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Bio-Intensive Garden of Barangay San Pablo, the Municipality of Binalonan qualified in the province-wide Search for Best Bio-Intensive Gardening for 2019.

A seven-member team from the provincial office of the Department of Social Welfare on March 4 had the validation of the garden and the other four finalists in the province. Alcala, Bolinao, Bayambang, and Balungao are the other finalists.

The first will represent Pangasinan in the regional search.

Maintained by members of the 4Ps of San Pablo, the 800 square meter garden is planted with mango, guava, banana, calamansi, and dragon fruit. There are also vegetables like squash, eggplant, tomatoes, beans, malunggay, patola, upo, okra, and others.

Aside from growing vegetables and fruit-bearing trees, cactus, bougainvilla, and other decorative plants are also planted. The members also raise pigs, goats, and chicken.

All their products are for sale for profit.

DSWD Binalonan monitor the garden and the Department of Agriculture of Binalonan provides technical assistance. Mrs. Marilyn Imbat and Mr. Ricardo Tabuac head the DSWD and Department of Agriculture respectively in Binalonan with the full support of Mayor Ramon V. Guico III and the Sangguniang Bayan headed by Vice-Mayor Melicio F. Patague II.

Brgy. Captain Dr. Lloyd B. Nero gives his support to the 4P’s in maintaining the garden in the barangay.

The criteria used in the validation are productivity, profitability, gardening method, sustainability, quality, and creativity.