The Harvest Festival held in Barangay Ticud, La Paz, Iloilo City, on September 24, 2026, was once again a success. The activity was spearheaded by the Iloilo City Agriculturist Office, together with the Ticud Farmers Association, under the program of the Iloilo City Government and private company MORE Power. Also in attendance at the event were the Executive Assistant to the Mayor and former Councilor Ely Estante, along with other stakeholders.
More than 200 high-quality hybrid Fujisawa and Inthanon melons were harvested and purchased by MORE Power employees during the Harvest Festival. The event also featured various freshly harvested vegetables and fruits, giving employees and community members an opportunity to directly support the farmers while enjoying their produce.
MORE Power employees joined the harvesting of the hybrid melons, which were immediately weighed and purchased. Other harvested produce was also brought to the MORE Power office for direct purchase by employees as part of the company’s continuing support for the direct farm-to-market approach.
The Department of Agriculture–National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (DA-NUPAP) also officially turned over the greenhouse with a hydroponics facility to the Ticud Farmers Association.
“Kami sa Iloilo City Agriculturist nagakalipay gid nga natigayon ang ini nga project although indi gid ini mahapos from the start since madamo kita gina-consider lakip na kay urban area kita. So ang pinaka-challenge gid ang vacant space. Nagapasalamat gid kami sa MORE Power sa inyo nga support sa City Agriculturist kag sa mga farmers association. Nangin possible ini nga project sa commitment man sang Ticud Farmers Association kag especially sa funding sang DA-NUPAP,” said Ms. Luna Elisel, NUPAP Coordinator of the City Agriculturist Office.
Members of the Ticud Farmers Association received cucumber and chili pepper seedlings, which will be used in their next planting season. Liquid fertilizer and grass cutters were also donated by MORE Power, helping the farmers prepare for and sustain succeeding crop cycles.
“Si MORE Power ever since naga-donate gid sang mga seedlings and fertilizer. Daku gid nga bulig sa kay farmers nga ginabakal ninyo ang ila mga produkto. Nalipay gid ang mga farmers nga sa field pa lang, naka-income na sila. Bulig gid ini sa ila para maka-recycle sila sang bag-o nga crop,” Ms. Elisel added.
More than a one-day harvest activity, the initiative demonstrates how steady support can help local farmers build a more reliable and sustainable livelihood. The proceeds from the sale of vegetables are reinvested as capital for the succeeding planting season, enabling the association to purchase inputs and continue production.
The company has been assisting the farmers of Iloilo City since 2021, especially during the pandemic years when food security became a pressing concern for many communities.
MORE Power’s participation is rooted truly in a continuing commitment to Iloilo City’s farming communities. Beyond providing seedlings, farm inputs, and equipment, the company helps create a practical link between farmers and consumers, where the value of local produce is recognized, purchased, and reinvested in the next harvest.
Through consistent collaboration with the Iloilo City Government, the City Agriculturist Office, and farmers’ associations, MORE Power supports a model where urban agriculture can become a lasting source of opportunity, food production, and livelihood for Iloilo City residents.