PUNLA - Proof of Concept in Brooke's Point

PUNLA means "seedling" in Filipino. It is a community-led initiative of Apl.de.Ap Foundation International that uses school farms to nourish children, support mothers, and help families build a more secure future.

Beginning in Brooke’s Point, Palawan, PUNLA will transform public school grounds into thriving food forests where fresh, locally grown food can become part of daily school meals. Parents will learn regenerative farming practices they can use at home, while high-school students will gain practical experience growing food and exploring farming as a livelihood.

PUNLA also reaches families during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, from pregnancy through age two. Food grown through the school farms will support pregnant and nursing mothers, infants, and young children. Registered nutritionists will guide family nutrition plans, while learning circles will give mothers and caregivers practical knowledge they can carry into their homes and communities.

The project is Pala’wan-led and designed to remain in community hands. It will begin at one public school, measure changes in nutrition, soil health, food production, and community participation, and expand only after the model has demonstrated that it works. The next phase will bring PUNLA to additional schools in the area, creating a tested approach that communities across the Philippines can adapt.

Supporting PUNLA means investing in more than meals. It means helping children grow healthier, giving mothers support during the most important years of a child’s development, restoring the land, strengthening local food security, and showing young people that agriculture can offer a future. One seedling becomes a food forest. One school becomes a model. One community creates a path that others can follow.