The National Nutrition Council at the National Capital Region (NNC-NCR) encouraged the public to engage in food gardening as one of the effective strategies to improve food security in the households and communities which in turn will contribute to improved nutrition.
This was reiterated during the recently conducted Stakeholders’ Forum held in celebration of the Nutrition Month themed: “Ugaliing magtanim, Sapat na nutrisyon aanihin!”, last July 19, 2018 at the Heritage Hotel, Pasay City.
Around 300 participants from the different local government units (LGU) in NCR composed of Nutrition Action Officers, Nutritionist-Dietitians, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Liga ng mga Barangay Presidents, Sangguniang Kabataan Officers, Schools Division Offices Health and Nutrition Coordinators, TLE teachers from private schools, PAN student chapters and faculty members from universities as well as partner agencies from the government and non-government organizations attended the forum.
NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa Federizo encouraged everyone to put up food garden in their homes, communities, schools, and workplaces to prevent hunger and malnutrition.
“The good news is that malnutrition rate in the region, underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight and obesity is continuously declining in the past three (3) years and this must be sustained. However, the problem of hunger and malnutrition persists in the country. We can solve the problem of hunger and malnutrition by working together and one strategy that we can do is to establish food gardens”, RNPC Federizo said. “By having food gardens, you have a reliable source of additional food. Hindi ka magugutom. May pagkain para sa iyong pamilya”, she added.
Department of Health – NCRO Regional Director Corazon Flores reminded the participants that malnutrition is a problem that can be solved. “With the help of everyone, by advocating healthy eating habits and promoting food gardens, we can solve the problem of malnutrition,” Director Flores explained.
Resource speaker Luis D. Bausa, owner of Bausa Integrated Farm and President of LDB Interskills Training and Consultancy Services, oriented the participants on how to put up vertical and container food gardens in an urban setting and the benefits of food gardening.
Ms. Geraldine Cabello, a Culinary Nutrition Instructor from Manila Tytana Colleges, also enlightened the participants on how to plan and prepare easy, affordable and healthy meals using the vegetables harvested from their food gardens.
“As much as possible, make our meals healthy by utilizing vegetables, particularly our local vegetables. Whenever we prepare meals, remember the five (5) M’s - Masarap, Masustansiya, Malinis, Mura pero Mukhang Mahal”, emphasized Cabello.
The participants, in response, pledged their commitment to put up their own food gardens and take the lead in promoting and advocating for the establishment of food gardens in the households, communities, schools and workplaces.
“Together let us find ways to promote food gardening in the region. Convince your family, friends and colleagues to have their own food gardens. Be nutrition champions and promote a food gardening culture and environment,” RNPC Federizo added. (TAR/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)
