“Magbigay ayon sa kakayanan, kumuha ayon sa pangangailangan”. Even the COVID-19 pandemic can’t stop Bayanihan – the Filipino way of sharing and working together for the common good.

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic happened, Filipinos families have been significantly affected by unemployment, poverty, and limited access to basic services including that of health and nutrition. This has caused many to experience hunger, malnutrition, and greater susceptibility to infections and diseases. 

Seeing the need for action during these trying times, it took one simple work to exemplify that indeed, the Bayanihan spirit is indeed still alive. The establishment of the first community pantry in Maginhawa St., Quezon City, is a testament to this.  The vision of the community pantry is to provide free food items and other essential needs to all families battling to survive in this time of pandemic. Seeing its impact, several individuals and organizations have adapted this initiative nationwide.

In the MIMAROPA Region, community pantries have sprouted in various localities such as municipalities of Lubang and Santa Cruz in Occidental Mindoro; municipalities of Mansalay, Naujan and Pinamalayan in Oriental Mindoro; municipalities of Ferrol and Odiongan in Romblon; municipalities of Brooke’s Point and Culion in Palawan; and Barangays San Pedro, San Miguel, Santa Monica and Tiniguiban in Puerto Princesa City, to name a few.

To maximize community pantries and ensure provision of healthful and nutritious food items, here are some recommendations for organizers:

• Identify locally produced food items in the community.

Patronizing fresh produce directly from small farmers, fisherfolks, and cooperatives within communities help protect and promote the local economy. This creates a win-win situation for all!

Take for example, the MIMAROPA Region is one of the prime producers of banana, calamansi, cashew, cassava, coconut, corn, mango, papaya, rice grain and seaweed. Apart from this, it is second top fish producer in the Philippines. 

• Include cost-effective yet nutritious food items.

Instead of purchasing canned goods and instant noodles, why not choose fruits, vegetables, eggs and root crops instead? Aside from being budget-friendly, these food items are packed with nutrients such as vitamins and minerals that are vital to boost the immune system to fight coronavirus. What we consume contributes to the body’s potential of battling and recapturing from the disease.

To learn more about the relationship between COVID-19 and micronutrients, read here:  https://www.nnc.gov.ph/regional-offices/luzon/region-iv-b-mimaropa/5050-covid-19-and-the-role-of-micronutrients

• Display and share healthy and easy-to-prepare recipes using usual food donations.

Organizers can write down recipes to make food donations a more nutritious dish and display within the community pantry area that is visible to all. If with spare fund, recipes can be printed out and disseminated to each beneficiary for their own future references.

On 28 April 2020, the National Nutrition Council released Nutrition Cluster Advisory No. 2, s. 2020: "Nutrition Cluster Recommendations on Healthful and Nutritious Family Food Packs and Sustainable Food Sources". Recipes include Corned Vegetable Medley, KJMS (Kalabasa-Japanese Malunggay-Sardines) Nuggets, Ginisang Toge, Fried Veggie Tuna, Spaghetti Sopas with Meatloaf and Kulitis, Ginataang Tuna and Corned Beef Laing. More recipes are to be shared on this page!

• Strictly comply with public health safety protocols.

To prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, observe the BIDA+ Solusyon sa COVID-19 campaign released by Department of Health (DOH), which includes these easy steps:

B – awal ang walang mask

I – sanitize ang kamay at iwasan ang kulob na lugar

D – umistansiya ng isang metro at limitahan ang pisikal na interaksyon sa iba

A – lamin ang tamang impormasyon

+ – Suportahan ang FDA approved na bakuna

Establishment of community pantries has proved that indeed, together... we can do so much! The generosity of Filipinos, as a matter of fact, is deeply rooted in our culture. Following the above recommendations can take the community pantry even further and better through ensuring that the nutritional needs of our kababayans especially those who are nutritionally vulnerable can be addressed.  

(NKSLoyola)