Waste of money? Cebu City’s mushroom-growing program under scrutiny

Local

A P20-MILION mushroom-growing program funded by Cebu City has come under intense scrutiny after reports of failed results and unfulfilled promises.

The Cebu City Council, during an executive session, questioned the program’s effectiveness and the proper allocation of public funds.

Councilor Nestor Archival Sr., a mushroom grower himself, took issue with the program’s lack of visible output, revealing that several mushroom farming sites showed no growth.

"I visited the sites, and nothing grew," Archival said, describing the initiative as a "waste of money."

The program, launched by the Division of the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) in late 2024, trained 113 beneficiaries in Barangay Binaliw.

Each was provided with P4,000 in seed capital to start cultivating mushrooms as a livelihood.

According to DWUP, the project aimed to offer space-efficient agricultural opportunities to urban poor families, but it has faced challenges in meeting expectations.

DWUP Project Evaluation Officer Catherine Maderazo Trapzi defended the program, emphasizing that mushroom farming is ideal for urban settings like Cebu City.

She cited that one square meter can accommodate 100 fruiting bags, each potentially yielding up to 30 grams of mushrooms every two weeks, with a market value of P100 per 100 grams.

Despite her defense, the program’s results have been inconsistent. Trapzi acknowledged that some beneficiaries have succeeded while others have failed.

Archival, however, emphasized that the program needs close monitoring, especially when public funds are at stake.

"We need to check if this project is successful," he said.

The Council also expressed concern over the allocation of the P20 million budget, suggesting that such funds could better serve immediate needs such as food and medical aid for the city's poor.

Council members have now requested DWUP to submit a comprehensive report on the program, including the results of its test run, guidelines, and the full list of trainees and seed capital recipients.

The council is set to review DWUP’s findings by April 30, 2025, as they continue to press for greater transparency in the use of public funds.(MyTVCebu)