TUGUEGARAO CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) is urging all villages to put up communal vegetable gardens to vie for the best “Gulayan sa Barangay” award, as part of the celebration of the 44th Nutrition Month this July.
DA-2 vegetable coordinator Carol P. Albay said during the “Tipon Tipan sa PIA” here on Tuesday that the Gulayan sa Barangay aims to encourage every household to practice serving vegetables everyday to balance the food intake of the family for good health and nutrition.
In the 44th Nutrition Month kick-off activity of the National Nutrition Council (NNC)-Region 2 at the Tuguegarao North Central School here, all barangay officials were enjoined to develop a communal garden to be planted with various vegetable plants that will be the source of food of their constituents, especially those with nutrition problems.
“We will choose the barangay, which has the best vegetable garden with various plants such as okra, eggplant, malunggay, sweet potato, ampalaya, sitaw, cabatiti, and pechay, among others,” Albay said.
Meanwhile, NNC-2 OIC nutrition program coordinator Maria Gisela M. Lonzaga said in a press conference Tuesday that the Nutrition Month celebration this year carries the theme “Ugaliing Magtanim, Sapat na Nutrisyon Aanihin”.
She said they are encouraging the development of food gardens, not only among families in the communities but also in schools, government offices and other workplaces.
The NNC wants to promote interventions and mobilize the local nutrition clusters and stakeholders to address gaps in nutrition from national to barangay level, according to Lonzaga.
She cited the importance of awareness among families and individuals on coping and resiliency strategies to prevent malnutrition.
She also asked the help of media practitioners region-wide to help them promote the lined-up activities for the Nutrition Month celebration.
“We also encourage government and private entities to hang streamers in their office building carrying this year’s theme,” Lonzaga added.
Nutrition Month is observed July of every year by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 491 signed on June 25, 1974 by then President Ferdinand Marcos.
The NNC was tasked to lead and coordinate the nationwide nutrition campaigns. (PR)
