National government agencies, in partnership with local government units (LGUs), are implementing various programs and projects to provide Filipinos access to healthy and affordable food choices.
“Nutrition is not just about food. It’s about dignity, equity. Giving every Filipino regardless of age, gender, income or location a fighting chance of life,” Department of Health – Ilocos Region Director Paula Paz Sydiongco said in her speech during the Nutrition Month launch in San Carlos City, Pangasinan Tuesday, as read by local health support chief Dr. Rosario Pamintuan.
National Nutrition Council – Ilocos officer-in-charge Kendall Gatan said stunting and wasting among children in the region remained a problem, although the stunting rate of 16 percent is below the national average of 23.6 percent.
Gatan said obesity poses a bigger problem, with four out of 10 Filipinos classified as overweight or obese.
Climate change disrupts food production, which raises food prices and eventually limits access to nutrition, he said.
Nonetheless, government agencies have programs such as national plans, supplementary feeding, affordable food access such as in Kadiwa stalls, agricultural supply chain boost and other social protection programs.
“Food is a human right, not a privilege. Buy local, support our farmers. Grow food gardens for self-sufficiency. Waste less. Start healthy diet early. Begin during first 1,000 days of life,” he told the audience.
Department of Agriculture (DA) – Ilocos Region project evaluation officer Irene Tactac said they have been providing free quality assorted seeds and technical support to communities under the national urban agriculture program.
“It is for establishing community and school gardens in highly urbanized areas,” she said.
As of 2024, there are 13 established community and school gardens in Pangasinan, five in La Union and six in Ilocos Norte.
Tactac said the DA has also conducted 101 Kadiwa programs from January to May, which were joined by 1,731 exhibitors and 28,260 household beneficiaries.
She said Ilocos Region remains self-sufficient in rice, corn, and high-value crops.
DA also continues to support 503,694 farmers registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture as of 2024.
The DA distributed a total of 4.27 million kilograms (kg) of palay seeds; 195,500 kg of corn seeds; 83,214 kg of assorted high-value crops 600 kg of soybeans; 1,000 kg of sorghum; 100,000 pieces of cassava seeds; 6,600 pieces of bamboo seedlings; 12,500 pieces of citrus; 120 kg forage seeds; and fertilizers.
Thirty modules of cattle, goat, and chicken; 155 heads of cattle and carabao; and conducted trainings and demonstration activities were the other DA provisions.
“Achieving food security for the Filipino people through boosting local agricultural production to ensure accessibility to affordable and nutritious food is our goal,” Tactac said.
Department of the Interior and Local Government – Pangasinan local government operations officer Czarina Gracia Manuel said 3,034 of 3,267 villages in the Ilocos Region have established community gardens, covering a total of 683,846 square meters of land.
It is under the HAPAG (Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay) sa Barangay Project, which aims to strengthen the capabilities of villages toward sustainable agricultural initiatives by way of community gardens.
Under the program, the villages are also tasked to create Barangay Nutrition Action Plans.
As of 2024, eggplant is the main product of the community gardens with a total of 56,546 kg. harvested, followed by onion with 45,823 kg; while papaya, banana, and mango are the top three fruits produced in the gardens. (PNA)
