Food insecurity is one of the major problems experienced by Filipinos due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of the Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey (RNAS) conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) from November 3 – December 3, 2020 showed that 62.1% of the surveyed households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity.
According to Food and Agriculture Organization, food insecurity is the lack of regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life. Since many people lost their job and source of income due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in March 2020, many of the households have no money to buy food. Based on the RNAS, the common reasons for limited access to food were no or limited public transportation, limited food stores in the area and no allowed family members to go outside to buy food.
To prevent hunger and malnutrition particularly during the pandemic, the National Nutrition Council encourages local government units (LGU) to invest in nutrition- sensitive programs such as establishing food gardens as a strategy of helping families have a reliable source of additional food for the family table. Nutrition Cluster Advisory No. 02, Series of 2020 issued by the NNC enjoins LGUs to promote the establishment of home gardens allowing families to produce their own fresh and nutritious vegetables and help reduce family food expense.
Many, if not all, Metro Manila LGUs heeded the call of the NNC and included the promotion of urban gardening in their COVID-19 nutrition response. Barangay nutrition committees were encouraged to set-up community food gardens. Priority families and other interested individuals were given free seeds and seedlings for their backyard vegetable gardens.
Mandaluyong City issued Ordinance No. 794, series of 2020 institutionalizing urban agriculture in the city. Through the ordinance, open spaces in subdivisions/villages, public and private schools, and day care centers, privately-owned lands and public open spaces are encouraged to be converted into urban gardens.
All 27 barangays of Mandaluyong City support and promote the said ordinance. “We have given out free seeds to our residents and many have started their own backyard food garden. We also converted areas in the barangay which used to be garbage sites into urban food gardens. These community food gardens will be maintained by our 4Ps members and monitored by our Barangay Tanods,” shared by Brgy. Chairperson Liza P. Cruz who also chairs the Barangay Zaniga Nutrition Committee in Mandaluyong City.
The Quezon City local government through its Joy of Urban Farming Program also distributed #GrowLokal: Libreng Binhi starter kits to its residents containing various kinds of seeds (talong, okra, kamatis, pechay, mustasa, ampalaya, kangkong), 2 kilos of organic fertilizer, 3 potting bags, and a guide on proper planting.
“We want to make sure that our people will have access to a healthy and safe source of food even during this pandemic. Through this #GrowLokal program, they can now grow their own vegetables,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
Pasig City’s Urban Vegetable Gardening Project also provides beneficiaries with knowledge and skills on putting up home vegetable gardens using empty containers such as plastic bottles and other recyclable materials that can contain garden soil. Beneficiaries are also given home gardening kits including planting tub, soil, sprinkler, sprayer, trowel, vermicast and seeds, among others.
It is still unknown when the community quarantine will be lifted. The country is still under the threat of COVID-19 and food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition continue to persist. LGUs must continue to help mitigate food insecurity and hunger by helping families and communities grow their own food through homeyard and community food gardens. Food gardens help families to have access to reliable source of additional food, helping them be food secure especially during this pandemic. Ugaliing magtanim, sapat na nutrisyon aanihin!
Written by: NOII Theresa A. Rivas and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo
References:
- http://www.fao.org/hunger/en/
- Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey on Food Security, Coping Mechanisms, and Nutrition Services Availed during COVID-19 Pandemic in Selected Areas in the Philippines, DOST-FNRI, 2020
- NNC Nutrition Cluster Advisory No. 02, Series 2020
- Ordinance No. 794, S-2020 “An Ordinance Institutionalizing Urban Agriculture in the City of Mandaluyong”
- Quezon City’s #GrowLokal urges families to grow own food to prevent hunger (https://www.nnc.gov.ph/regional-offices/luzon/national-capital-region/3857-quezon-city-s-growlocal-urges-families-to-grow-own-food-to-prevent-hunger)
