REFORMING EATING HABITS. Detainees at the Quezon District Jail on Thursday (July 20, 2023) join a cooking contest as part of Nutrition Month activities. Competitors were encouraged to prepare healthy meals from locally-sourced ingredients. (Photo by Belinda Otordoz)
PAGBILAO, Quezon – The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) - Quezon District Jail is collaborating with the Nutritionist-Dietitians Association of the Philippines-Quezon Chapter and the Rotary Club of Lucena University District on raising the quality of food being served to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
A series of activities focused on the humanitarian effort kicked off on Thursday, which also urged to develop the culinary ingenuity of PDLs as part of the 2023 National Nutrition Month celebration.
BJMP officials said the activities, including cooking competitions between detainees, is especially vital with the surges in food inflation and recent health crises.
In an interview, Jail Officer-2 Joefrie Anglo, the BJMP’s community relations service officer, said the friendly PDL competition emphasized the idea of accessibility and encouraged contenders to develop recipes using readily available ingredients and economical cooking techniques.
“The event is also a way to inform and encourage the jail populace on how to change to a healthy, sustainable diet while also promoting the goods produced by our PDL farmers,” Anglo said.
Among the dishes prepared by contestants were "sinigang" and "guisado", all using only vegetables as the main ingredient, which drew the approval of BJMP staff and PDLs.
Anglo said the contest helped "raise jail residents’ awareness on the importance of fruits and vegetables in boosting their immune system" to fight common viruses, including Covid-19.
The events also featured a seminar by health workers and dietitians, teaching PDLs how to boost their immune system as well as informing BJMP personnel on how to physically cope with night-shift assignments through a balanced diet.
The BJMP-Quezon currently houses almost 700 PDLs, Anglo said.
July is declared as Nutrition Month pursuant to Presidential Decree 491, which also mandated the National Nutrition Council to lead the month-long nationwide campaign for good nutrition. (PNA)
