Barangay health nutrition scholars and officials have urged parents to provide their children quality good food from containerized or backyard gardens.
Ines Jesmir Santos, Nutrition Officer II at the City Health Office (CHO), who handles 19 barangays in Calinan as District Nutrition Officer, told Madayaw on Wednesday during the 51st Nutrition Month Celebration in Barangay Subasta that they emphasize to barangays, especially parents, the importance of having a healthy alternative food source.
“Usually gina-emphasize namo regarding sa food security dapat every household gina advocate gyud namo nga naa silay vegetable garden free from fertilizers and fresh pa. Dili na kinahanglan muadto pa sila’g palengke so anytime kung gusto sila nga naa sila’y lutuon pwede sila mukutlo sa kilid. Ginarequire namo sila nga at least five ka klase nga vegetable around their households para at least mas daghan og variety mas colorful, mas daghan og nutrition (We usually emphasize food security in every household. We advocate that they should have vegetable gardens free of fertilizers. With this they do not need to go to the market [for food]. Anytime they can get the produce for cooking. We require at least five kinds of vegetables for more variety and more nutrition),” Santos said.
Angele Astrologo Latibo, a mother of three, said on Wednesday that in a bid to ensure her children’s good health, she tends a small plot and containerized mini-garden in their boardinghouse.
“Wala gud mi yuta nagaboard mi, gamay lang gyud na space para lang gyud makatanom og gulay kay makabudget man kung naa kay tinanom,” Latibo said, adding her children do not easily get sick.
She currently has okra, eggplant, and string beans, which she fertilizes with chicken manure. She said that with the produce, they do not need to buy ingredients every time they cook.
Santos added that the CHO, in partnership with the City Agriculturist Office, provides vegetable seeds and seedlings to households. They prioritize households with malnourished children and households with pregnant and lactating mothers, especially those who are nutritionally at risk. .
Barangay Subasta Kagawad Ruby Mahipus, who chairs the Committee on Health Chair, said that they regularly inform parents, especially the new mothers the importance of providing good food and not processed food to their children.
Barangay Subasta’s Nutrition Month Celebration was held on July 9, 2025 at its Barangay Hall. It was attended by day care pupils, day care parents Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Volunteer Workers, district staff of the CHO, Barangay Subasta Council and staff, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, staff of Councilor Potpot Villafuerte, and staff of Councilor Enzo Villafuerte.
Barangay Subasta is among the 182 barangays of the city that celebrated the 51st Nutrition month.
CHO Nutrition Division Head Elizabeth Banzon said that various barangays have already marked the celebration with their version. Some had mini programs, some had cooking contests with parents judged by children, while others conducted feeding programs.
However, the message they delivered was that food and nutrition security must come together. CIO