Amidst COVID-19 pandemic and to avoid its massive spread, Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) of various Local Government Units across the country was implemented. Various barangays, municipalities, and cities in Eastern Visayas were not spared in the declaration of ECQ. 

Implementing ECQ is a threat to food security which in turn threatens the nutritional status of the vulnerable population such as pregnant and lactating women, children 6-59 months, school children, women of reproductive age particularly teenagers, and the elderly. Local Government Units (LGUs) are mandated to provide food to its populace in times of emergencies such as the COVID-19.  The same are not able to purchase enough food packs which usually consist of rice, sardines, and noodles, because of the ECQ. These food packs may not be able to provide enough nutrients among the vulnerable population mentioned.

With this, at least two lady mayors in the province of Leyte opted to utilize vegetables as part of the food packs to be distributed to their constituents. Mayor Daisy Abuyabor-Lleve of Mahaplag, Leyte, which is one of the National Nutrition Council project sites in the implementation of Early Childhood and Care and Development in the First 1,000 Days (ECCD-F1K), transformed the rooftop of the municipal building into one big and functional municipal nursery. Various vegetables are grown in that nursery and distributed to its target population particularly the pregnant and lactating mother, families with 6-24 months old, and those with malnourished children. By the time COVID-19 struck Eastern Visayas, these vegetables were ready for harvest and complemented with the food packs being distributed.

Meanwhile, Hindang, Leyte Mayor Betty A. Cabal had the same initiative as that of Mayor Lleve but with another mechanism. Mayor Cabal bought vegetable products from farmers of the different barangays of the municipality to be included in the food packs being distributed. Hitting two birds with one stone as the adage says, the farmer-vegetable producers have enough sure income without fear of having wastage when they sell it ordinarily and at the same time providing nutritious vegetables to the recipients.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) tells that COVID-19 at the moment has no treatment, eating of nutritious vegetables can boost the immune system of individuals. It will also provide the basic nutrients needed by the body, particularly those of the vulnerable population.

While everybody is busy combating the COVID-19 pandemic, these two municipalities continue in their efforts in curbing malnutrition in their respective areas. #CPDotollo