Negros Oriental Province - Malnutrition remains a public health problem across the globe. The Philippines has high prevalence of malnutrition and is experiencing food insecurity, especially with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There was a disruption to food supply chains, loss of income and livelihoods, a widening of inequality, disruptions to social protection programs, altered food environments, and uneven food prices during the pandemic.

One of the underlying causes of malnutrition in the Philippines is the lack of income and poverty in general. Based on the latest data published by the Philippine Statistics Authority, poverty incidence in the country increase to 23.7% in the first semester of 202`1 from 21.1& of the same period in 2018. This is equivalent to 26.14 million Filipinos living below poverty threshold.

Providing of livelihood assistance to households especially those with nutritionally-at-risk family members such as 0–59-month-old children, pregnant and lactating women is one of the activities conducted by the government and by every local government in the country. It is done in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and other government agencies. DA distributes seedlings for gardening for community and home food production and dispersing of farm animals. DTI on the other hand, offers training assistance especially to the less privileged individuals in the community who need to be trained on livelihood activities. And DOLE offers cash for work activities such as DOLE-TUPAD.

One of the goals of these activities is to address and prevent the high prevalence of malnutrition among 0–59-month-old children, pregnant and lactating women. As for the DA’s activities, it enhances food access through sustainable food production, food quality and food safety. It also focuses and recognizes the multifunctional participation of agriculture in addressing malnutrition. It all supports and helps in ensuring food and nutrition security which is essential in providing the children the food they need for a healthy growth and development. All of these activities/interventions help in alleviating the nutrition situation of a family through income generation.

These investments from the government aim to improve the quality of life and nutrition situation of its community which will contribute to the achievement of a healthy and well-nourished country. // ND II Chutsvieka May Pacatang, RND