Vico Sotto featured in FutureRice Farm’s rice paddy art

MANILA, Philippines—Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto took the spotlight in this year’s rice paddy art developed by the FutureRice Farm, dubbed as the first rice agricultural tourism site in the Philippines, for his efforts in advancing urban agriculture.

FutureRice Farm, which also aims to help Filipino farmers in rice research and development, said Sotto’s office co-organized an architecture design competition that seeks to promote urban farming.

LOOK: Owing to popular demand, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto (@VicoSotto) was featured in FutureRice Farm's paddy art this year. 📷FutureRice Farm @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/s41HOb3gzF

— carlo jacob molina (@carlomolina_) April 7, 2021

The competition, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and youth organization RE-TERRA, invites young Filipinos to transform idle lands in Pasig City into productive urban farming spaces.

The five-hectare land located at the Philippine Rice Research Institute in the Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija province, also lauded Sotto’s support to local farmers by buying from Benguet peasants to augment the city’s vegetable supplies last year.

“Through this paddy art, we salute young leaders rising up to build a bright and prosperous future for our nation in the best way they can,” FutureRice Farm wrote in a Facebook post.  /ra