When Irha Mel Alfeche entered the Miss Philippines Earth 2024 pageant, she aimed for more than just a crown. At 24, this newly minted beauty queen from Matanao, Davao del Sur is on a mission to protect Mother Earth with her advocacy for "eating green and living green." For Irha, her advocacy is not just a slogan but a way of life.
"Eating green is just as crucial as living green. My advocacy primarily focuses on urban or home gardening, a practice that has become more pertinent recently. The pandemic has taught us the value of resourcefulness and innovation," she shared in an interview.
Urban gardening, she explains, involves cultivating plants in urban settings, whether in apartments, residences, or other areas with little to no land space. Irha believes that this practice is beneficial not only to the environment but also to the country’s economy and food security. During the pre-pageant activities on Camiguin Island, Irha observed local residents tending to vegetable gardens in the barrios they visited.
She was thrilled to see that even in urban areas in other parts of Mindanao, residents embraced this sustainable practice. "If you live in a city, urban gardening is excellent work," she enthused. Support for eco-tourism Irha's passion for the environment extends to eco-tourism as well.
She advises municipalities to invest in their local communities. "To further promote eco-tourism, we must invest in the locals in training and calibrate them with the traits Filipinos are .
