FRESH VIEWPOINTS: A NEW PERSPECTIVE
By Brian James Lu
A doable approach to solving self-sufficiency in food security
June 2, 2023
We all know that the Philippines is an agricultural country. It is unfortunate, however, that all sorts of
agricultural products are imported, undermining local production. What is untenable is that hunger and
malnutrition continue to hound Filipinos when we have the most fertile land and abundant rivers and seas
in the world. This should be enough to address malnutrition and hunger in the country.
The data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is disturbing. It said that every day, 95
children in the Philippines die from malnutrition; 27 out of 1,000 children do not get past their fifth
birthday; and a third of Filipino children are stunted, meaning short for their age.
The Social Weather Stations (SWS), on the other hand, stated that between October and December 2022,
around 3 million Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger at least once. The SWS defines
involuntary hunger as "being hungry and not having food to eat." Our country is abundant with natural
resources, but its people are experiencing hunger and malnutrition.
A worthwhile endeavor to solve hunger and malnutrition is the Department of the Interior and Local
Government’s (DILG) program to promote gardening as a sustained community effort for food self-
sufficiency. Dubbed “Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay” (HAPAG), it is a grassroots-based project
that aims to strengthen the capacities of barangays towards sustainable agricultural initiatives. HAPAG
intends to intensify agricultural activities, primarily barangay gardening, where households and the
community can produce fresh vegetables and fruits in their backyards and available land spaces. They are
also encouraged to establish community gardens where they can sell surplus vegetable products.
The advocate of this project in the DILG is Undersecretary Chito Valmocina, who is now the
undersecretary for barangay affairs and oversees the nation’s barangays. He advises and assists the
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG) in the formulation and implementation of the
department’s policies, plans and programs. Valmocina is the perfect person to oversee the implementation
of the HAPAG project considering that he used to be the punong barangay of Barangay Holy Spirit in
Quezon City, where he spearheaded urban agriculture and gardening.
I know Usec. Valmocina, and I know of his successful urban gardening program in his barangay. He
pioneered urban agriculture by establishing a model urban farm in his barangay. He also encouraged his
constituents to plant vegetables in vacant spaces and idle lots with permission from the owners. His urban
gardening project also resulted in a zero-waste management program where waste is recycled and
compost is used as organic fertilizer for the urban garden. Using recycled materials and compost, they
were able to grow vegetables in cans, pots, rubber tires, bottled water and defective appliances such as
refrigerators and washing machines, among others.
His project was so successful that it became a favorite destination for local government units that wanted
to replicate it. Many of them even came from rural areas all over the country. What is amazing here is that
there is no need for the barangay to set aside a budget for the project since Usec. Valmocina was able to
accomplish it through the value of volunteerism or the Filipino bayanihan spirit.
I just hope that the barangays will heed the HAPAG project since it is beneficial to all Filipinos,
especially the marginalized. Hopefully, this will imbibe the culture of gardening, which, unfortunately, is
fast fading as people rely mostly on those bought from the market. I remember those days when
gardening was part of the elementary curriculum and children were taking initiatives to plant vegetables
in their backyard. Malnutrition and hunger were not that pronounced then. Fruit trees were also abundant.
It is a worthwhile initiative for the DILG to mobilize all barangays in the country through the HAPAG
project to address the issues of malnutrition, hunger and food self-sufficiency. There should be no
hindrance to this endeavor since there are many vacant spaces in every barangay. Vegetable seeds are also
available from the Department of Agriculture and LGUs and are distributed for free. What it takes is
strong initiative and proper leadership from our local leaders to mobilize their constituents.
Food security is one of the major concerns today. The World Food Program (WFP) stated that in October
last year, one out of 10 households in the Philippines were food insecure. The BARMM, Regions 8 and
12, are the most food-insecure regions, and they belong to the seven poorest regions in the Philippines.
We need more programs at the grassroots level, like HAPAG, to address food security and hunger.
The Foundation for National Development (FND), of which I am the chairman, fully supports the
HAPAG project. We view this as one of the solutions that will lead to self-sufficiency and food security.
This initiative will also lessen Filipinos’ dependency on imported agricultural products. By mobilizing the
community, the people will act as one, geared towards a purpose.
We have already established a community garden in Bagong Silangan, Quezon City — a 2 hectare farm
planted with various vegetables. We aim to create a source of fresh vegetables for the residents and a
community that is self-reliant and secure for its food source. We are also encouraging the residents to
plant vegetables in their backyards and in their homes by using recycled materials, as seen in the urban
garden of Usec. Valmocina. There is no substitute for growing your own vegetables. It is clean, organic,
and fresh. It also helps the environment since plants emit oxygen, which is needed by our bodies. When
we breathe, our body takes in oxygen. Imagine if we had lots of vegetables in our backyard.
For a better environment, the DILG also conducted a simultaneous nationwide bamboo and tree planting
activity on Sept. 13, 2022, under the theme "Buhayin ang Pangangalaga sa Kalikasan." The activity aims
to remind people of their roles in the care and protection of Mother Earth. The tree planting is a barangay-
based activity since the barangay officials and staff are tasked with ensuring that the trees planted are
monitored regularly to ensure their growth. The barangay officials are also mandated to submit
accomplishment reports to Usec. Valmocina. There is hope for Mother Earth if people are mobilized to
plant trees and vegetables. These are doable programs that address not only the people’s need for food
and food security but also the environment.
Food security
Food security | Philstar.com
DEMAND AND SUPPLY - Boo Chanco - The Philippine Star
January 2, 2023 | 12:00am
Food security is increasingly a serious concern for many countries. Thanks to the Russian invasion of
Ukraine, climate change and food nationalism, food security should be on top of many government’s list
of concerns.
In Singapore, its government is very conscious of food security. CNBC reports that as a small island
nation, Singapore lacks natural resources. It imports more than 90 percent of its food from more than 170
countries and regions.
Singapore is already feeling the effects of rising food inflation. Food prices rose by 4.1 percent in April
from a year earlier, up from 3.3 percent in March, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Ministry of
Trade and Industry said.
With the country vulnerable to many external headwinds, the government launched a “30 by 30” initiative
to produce 30 percent of its nutritional needs by 2030.
In the Philippines, food security and food inflation are related and are growing problems. It was reported
that the national average for food inflation rose from 6.5 percent in August to 7.7 percent in September.
Of the food items, the foremost drivers of higher food inflation are sugar, confectionery, and desserts
(30.2 percent); corn (26.2 percent); and oils and fats (20.1 percent).
The big problem is the lack of productivity of our agricultural sector. Farming methods are antiquated, the
economics of agriculture impoverish the farmers and government is focused on rice.
According to the Philippine Institute of Development study or PIDS, “with traditional agricultural
methods falling short, investing in new technologies is key to transforming the country’s livestock,
poultry, and dairy (LPD) industries.”
“Many investments must be poured into production and process improvements, including technology,
equipment, animal inventory, and manpower capacity upgrades, for the agriculture industry to be more
competitive,” the PIDS paper said.
Though LPD industries produce a third of the agriculture sector’s output based on Philippine Statistics
Authority data, local consumption still relies on imports. The study noted that pork import dependency
showed “an increasing trend in value from 2012 to 2018”.
Dressed chicken imports are “significantly higher than exports” and local milk production constitutes
only “ five percent of the total milk demand”.
“Processing consolidation of backyard operators under farmer organizations (FOs) can be an opportunity
to transform the LPD industries…”
This recommendation was echoed by another PIDS study. PIDS senior research fellow Roehlano Briones
and research analyst Isabel Espineli raised the need to undertake a comprehensive review of trade policies
affecting the value chain of the LPD industries.
Both studies noted the Philippines’ failure to take advantage of export-driven industrialization. According
to the authors, the country missed a phase in the structural transformation process by quickly shifting
from an economy based on agriculture to one that is driven by services. The sector’s inability to move up
the value chain was caused by policy inconsistencies that encouraged import substitution as well as
foreign exchange.
For example, corn accounts for 50 percent of swine and poultry feed but local corn is more expensive
than imported corn, prompting commercial producers to prefer importation. While high tariffs on corn
seek to protect local producers, they raise feed cost which is the highest among all operating expenses,
thereby increasing the overhead cost.
Given the inefficiency of the agriculture department, perhaps the entry of big corporations will help
increase our level of food security. There is good news. Metro Pacific and San Miguel have launched
such projects.
Last year, MPIC ramped up investments to help reduce the country’s dependence on food imports.
Metro Pacific Agro Ventures, Inc. (MPAV) has tapped the LR Group of Israel to expand MPAV’s
existing dairy business.
MPIC invested in the dairy industry by partnering with the Carmen’s Best Group. They plan to further
develop and expand the operations of its dairy farm and dairy products manufacturing facilities.
“Our investment in agriculture is synonymous to food security and substantial independence but will
ultimately become a means of alleviating hunger in our country – a pressing issue that we have taken as a
challenge to address,” said MPIC chairman, president, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.
“Our goal is and always will be to feed our people first.”
This partnership plans to annually produce at least six million liters of milk in a facility in Bay, Laguna.
On the other hand, San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) food unit San Miguel Foods has broken ground on its P20-
billion Davao Broiler Complex project, the first of a planned 15 mega poultry farms the company is
building in the next 10 years, to help ensure sufficient supply of chicken and improve food security in the
country.
The new complex, to be built on 921 hectares of land in Hagonoy, Davao City, will feature 28 world class
climate-controlled broiler houses that can produce up to 80 million grown broilers a year, and meet
demand from the entire Mindanao region.
The broiler complex will feature multi-tier decks designed to allow for more efficient production and
better health and welfare practices, and will include an integrated sanitation management program to
neutralize odor and eliminate flies.
“This major investment is an important milestone not just for San Miguel and the whole of Mindanao, but
more significantly, for our country’s food industry. Poultry is a staple food of Filipinos as it is versatile,
affordable, and nutritious. This mega-facility is our first step at ensuring sufficient, year-long supply of
high-quality, local poultry nationwide, and is among the ways we’re helping to achieve food security for
every Filipino,” said SMC president Ramon S. Ang.
Ang said San Miguel Foods is set to begin work on four other mega-facilities within the next five years.
These are set to be built in Sison, Pangasinan; Lucanin, Bataan, and Sariaya and Pagbilao in Quezon
province.
In 10 years, these four mega farms, combined with the Davao complex, will be able to produce 400
million birds a year.
We need more investments like these to reduce our dependence on food imports and develop the
economic situation in our farm areas.
Corporate agribusiness ventures have been successful in the past. Dole and Del Monte are good examples.
We have to think economies of scale which the conglomerates can provide.
Boo Chanco’s email address is
[email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco
The Philippines is a fast-growing country that maintains a gross domestic product (GDP)
of 6.2% annually since 2010.
Fig.1 Per Capita Income (constant 2010 US$) and population (millions) 2010-2015 (adapted from WFO).
Despite the significant economic growth, Filipinos battle with hunger and malnutrition.
According to a Social Weather Station (SWS) Survey, 3.4 million Filipino families
experienced hunger in the 2nd quarter of 2021.
Households are forced to cut down on the quantity and quality of their food consumption
due to inflation in food prices and unemployment. Surveys done by the World Bank
showed that people around the world are running out of food due to high food prices as a
consequence of disruption due to COVID-19 lockdowns and currency devaluations.
Households in low-and middle-income countries spend a higher percentage of their
income on food. Due to COVID-19, more people are facing acute food insecurity.
Hunger and malnutrition are prevalent among children and women. In 2011, 33.6% of
children under 5 years old suffered from stunted growth. The Food Nutrition Research
Institute (FNRI) reported that 25% of pregnant women who have children aged below 5
years were nutritionally at risk. Consequently, almost 12% of lactating mothers are also
underweight.
The country’s Global Hunger Index (GHI) for 2021 reaches 16.8, which ranks the country
68th out of the 116 countries with moderate hunger levels. This is based on four indicators:
undernourishment, under-five mortality rate, wasting, and stunting.
Fig. 2. GHI score trend for the Philippines from 2000–2021 (adapted from Global Hunger Index).
*Note: Data for GHI scores, child stunting, and child wasting are from 1998–2002 (2000),
2004–2008 (2006), 2010–2014 (2012), and 2016–2020 (2021). Data for undernourishment
are from 2000–2002 (2000), 2005–2007 (2006), 2011–2013 (2012), and 2018–2020 (2021).
Data for child mortality are from 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2019 (2021).
According to the United Nations , 59 million Filipinos have been suffering from hunger
even before the pandemic. The growing population paired with the disrupted agricultural
productivity due to pandemic lockdowns resulted in food shortage. The pandemic
exacerbated food insecurity in the country, leaving poor households particularly farmers
and other farm workers more susceptible to the effects of climate change, extreme
weather events, pests, and diseases (Future Learn).
Is the Philippines food secure?
The globally accepted definition of food security is from the World Food Summit in 1996
that says, “all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and
nutritious food.”
Given this definition, the Philippines is not yet food secure. The country is not even self-
sufficient in rice, coffee, livestock, and poultry, which are some of the staple products on
Filipino tables according to Dr. Domingo Angeles of the University of the Philippines Los
Baños (UPLB). In an article published by UPLB, Dr. Angeles noted that one possible reason
for this is that 30% of Filipinos are poor who can not afford to buy a proper amount of
nutritious food. Ten percent of which eats once a day or “isang kahig, isang tuka.”
But food security is not solely having food on the table. It is complex as it is composed
of four components according to World Vision: availability (does food exist near me?),
access (can I get to food easily?), utilization (will this food contribute to my health and
well-being?), stability (will food be available tomorrow, next week, next month?)
Among other issues connected to food security are diseases, environmental degradation,
the unpopularity of agriculture among the youth, diminishing area of agricultural lands,
and climate change. Extension services, preharvest practices, and postharvest losses are
also factors affecting food security. Worldbank explained that higher retail prices coupled
with reduced incomes and employment also affects food security.
Food secure versus food self-sufficient
Self-sufficiency and food security are not equivalent. Food self-sufficiency is being able to
meet consumption needs (particularly for staple food crops) from own production rather
than by buying or importing (International Food Policy Research Institute ). “A nation can
be food self-sufficient yet food insecure, and can be food-secure even if not food self-
sufficient.” This is true for Singapore that has consistently ranked among the most food-
secure in the world but imports 90% of its food from neighboring countries because they
can not produce their own (Inquirer).
How climate shocks affect food security?
Agriculture production is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and natural
disasters as a major percentage of Filipinos rely on it for employment and food. The World
Food Program (WFP) conducted an analysis on the Philippines climate change and food
security and found how climate change is affecting agricultural production and supply
chain in the country. Key points in the study will be highlighted in this section.
Impacts on crops, livestock, and fisheries
Flood and risk mapping conducted by WFP suggest that rainfall will likely increase by 40%
from 2020-2050 which will affect agriculture production zones. Climatic shocks such as
floods, typhoons, and drought combined will cause serious threats to food security.
Historical data shows (2000-2010) that the country lost US$219 billion from
agricultural damage brought about by these natural hazards. For specific crops, key
agricultural crops were studied and results showed that there were annual yield losses of
up to 5.9% for maize, 4.2% for rice, and 3.0% for high-value cash crops from 1995 to 2010.
The increase in rainfall and temperature will compromise the production suitability of
crops in different regions. Rice as a staple crop will be greatly affected by the increase in
temperature and precipitation that will lead to prolonged flooding and will create a more
humid and conducive environment for pests and diseases to develop. According to WFP,
the projected damage on the rice sector will include rice sheath blight, bacterial sheath
blight, and rice blasts. For corn, 17% of current growing regions (from the north to the
southwest) will be considered moderately to entirely unsuitable for corn production due
to rainfall for 8 months. Fifteen percent will diminish productivity for 10 months due to
high temperatures.
Livestock animals in mainland Luzon and some islands of Mindoro will suffer stunted
growth, deficient good quality meat, and a decrease in reproductive capacity also due to
the increase in temperature. Since the country have a limited thermoneutral zone (or area
with a temperature where the adult animal can maintain a normal body temperature
without using much energy), domesticated livestock and poultry animals will likely suffer
from the changes in environmental temperature, relative humidity, and sunlight exposure
(photoperiod) that can lead to chronic stress, specifically heat stress. Animals suffering
from heat stress experience change in behavior including panting, lower feed intake,
increase in water consumption.
The country is highly susceptible to hazards in the ocean-based food systems as well as
inland freshwater aquaculture. Sea-level rise (SLR), storm surges (SS), and saltwater
intrusion (SWI) are among the most common climate-related shocks that will affect coastal
communities. Contamination of water through synthetic fertilizer and pesticides can also
affect the groundwater compromising the safety of the health of people, animals, and the
environment.
The impact of climatic changes is affecting rural households in these ways:
in terms of food consumption in their inability to consume the food that they
produce;
as producers due to the decreased income from productivity losses; and
as market consumers due to the unavailability and higher prices of food.
Although both rural and urban households will likely suffer from the effects of climate
change, food scarcity, disrupted supply chain, and inflation will disproportionately affect
poor and vulnerable populations the most. Farmers and fisherfolks
Households that suffer from climate shocks and food insecurity were forced to adapt and
cope with its impacts. For instance, the impact of El niño season forced households to
decrease the quality and quantity of food intake. Other studies reported that urban poor
slums and squatter settlements in Manila coped with climate hazards by eating calorie-
dense food and decreasing food intake.
The World Bank suggests diversification of employment to combat unemployment and
inflation brought about by natural hazards. Following the 1997-1998 El Niño, many
households diversified their income by introducing new crops and engaging in activities
such as sewing, carpentry, and construction.
Impacts on household nutrition
WFP Fill the Nutrition Gap 2018 reported that the average diet of rural, urban, and
vulnerable populations in the country have been consuming food high in cereals,
particularly rice but low in fruits and vegetables, despite its affordable price. It also
highlighted that households earning a minimum wage across 17 regions can not afford a
nutritious diet, even if they were to allot 70% of their income. This is correlated with
childhood stunting (33%), overweight (31%), and wasting (6) prevalent in the country
(2015 data).
The total budget, nutrient knowledge of caregivers, and own-food production influence
children’s nutrition.
Children who are living in vulnerable households who rely on farming and off-farm income
have adequate nutrition compared to adults which suggests preferential feeding of
children.
Lowland and coastal villages have significant differences between income, food
availability, nutrition scenarios. Coastal livelihood contributes to food insecurity which is
directly related to malnutrition of children. Lowland communities, on the other hand, food
security is attributed to social practices including breastfeeding and complementary
feeding approaches, and morbidity linked to environmental and health conditions.
Where should we start?
The local government and agriculture stakeholders play an important role in achieving
food security. Economists’ perspectives should be considered as the country combats food
insecurity. Dr. Cielito Habito from Ateneo de Manila University explained the concept of
food security during the Department of Agriculture’s National Food Security
Summit which he explained as a combination of food availability, affordability, quality and
safety, and resilience against risks.
Habito added that food security is a collaborative effort from the government, farmers,
scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, and general consumers.
Former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor wrote a
comprehensive article explaining food security and how we can achieve it. The following
are his recommendations:
1. Appropriate infrastructure to support the backlog of over 10,000 kilometers of
farm-to-market roads (FMRs). Road network maps can be provided by LGS and
baranggay (villages) for these FMR projects, while the Department of Agriculture
(DA) supplies geotagging support.
2. Mechanization should encompass the food value chain. Training and capacity
building of services providers to maintain machines and systematized individual
farms should also be prioritized, including basic food processing of farm produce
and food development. Cold chains system, powdering facilities can be added to
community ports and production sites.
3. Support research and development initiatives that produce ground-level results.
Applied research and training for scientists who specialize in agriculture. Some of
the research initiatives that can be improved include, lagundi, VCO, coco water,
blast-frozen fish, and biodiesel.
4. Consolidation of best practices information to enhance productivity and
profitability of farms, including block farms, shared processing facilities, service
provider groups to maintain farm machinery and operate leasing services,
consolidated marketing efforts, farm planning and crop scheduling, and more.
5. Recognize organic agriculture as an alternative. This deserves a place in the food
security framework as it provides healthy produce. A niche market for organic
agriculture is growing, as well as organic fertilizers, non-synthetic chemical
concoctions, and natural pesticides.
6. Connect farmers to the market. Farmers need to shorten the value chain and
connect with a stable market to have a sustained income and profit.
7. Integrated and sustained location-specific interventions. Government should create
specific and suitable solutions to address food security issues.
Glossary of terms
Undernourishment: the share of the population that is undernourished (that is, whose
caloric intake is insufficient);
Child wasting: the share of children under the age of five who are wasted (that is, who
have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition);
Child stunting: the share of children under the age of five who are stunted (that is, who
have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition); and
Child mortality: the mortality rate of children under the age of five (in part, a reflection of
the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments) -according to Global
Hunger Index)
All texts created by the Climate Tracker Asia are available
under a “Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
(CC BY 4.0)” . They can be copied, shared and made publicly
accessible by users so long as they give appropriate credit,
provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.
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The Philippine Food
Security Challenge
Villgro Philippines
·
Follow
8 min read
May 22, 2021
4
Christian Dasalla, Incubation Fellow at Villgro Philippines, deep
dives into the state of Food Security in the Philippines.
H unger and malnutrition have been long-standing issues in the
Philippines. In fact, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
reported in 2020 that more than 59 million Filipinos suffer from
moderate to severe food insecurity, the highest number in the entire
Southeast Asian region, having inconsistent access and availability of
nutritious food. In addition, the Philippines achieved a moderate rating
for global hunger at 19.0 by the Global Health Index in 2020, ranking
69th out of 117 countries (Global Hunger Index, 2020). With the
COVID-19 pandemic continuing to gravely affect the world as we
speak, food insecurity and nutrition remain to be a problem of great
importance for each Filipino.
Amid recurring lockdowns and quarantine restrictions, access to safe
and nutritious food has been posed as a significant issue and will
continue to be one unless more effective interventions and initiatives
are imposed. In order to formulate solutions for these problems, it is
just as important to take a closer look at the Philippine food security
challenge in each aspect and detail.
Fundamental requirements to achieving Food Security
Availability of food
According to FAO, a food secure country is characterized with equal
“access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food”. That said, one
important facet to achieving food security is the physical availability of
food and related resources.
Being a country heavily dependent on agriculture for commodities and
livelihood, the challenges faced by farmers and fisherfolk nationwide
create a domino effect to Filipino society, ultimately leading to adverse
effects on Philippine food security. The prevalence of calamities and
natural disasters is seen as one of the factors that greatly contribute to
food insecurity (FAO, 2015), from dry spells and droughts to typhoons
and monsoon rains, have collectively slowed down the growth rates for
agriculture in the country.
Late last year, a series of typhoons, Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses, ravaged
the country, leaving countless damages including those in the
agricultural sector. The Department of Agriculture (DA) estimates a
loss of over P10 billion for the sector due to the impact of the 3
typhoons, leaving about 150,000 farmers affected and 275,000
hectares of land damaged (San Pedro, 2020; Cordero, 2020).
Accessibility to food
Economic accessibility to nutritious food serves as another important
aspect in ensuring food security. The Philippine Statistics Authority
measures this facet through subsistence incidence or the percentage of
Filipino individuals below the food poverty line, having income levels
below the food threshold. Described as the minimum income required
for individuals to meet basic food and nutritional needs for essential
physical activity, the food threshold is estimated using the national and
provincial food bundles prescribed by the Food and Nutrition Research
Institute (FNRI) and the retail prices of the ingredients to make the
meals included in the bundle. The food threshold also represents 70%
of the estimated poverty threshold used to measure the national and
provincial poverty incidence (Mapa, 2019).
The prescribed food bundle used as basis used for subsistence incidence
estimations (Mapa, 2019)
As of 2018, the estimated food threshold for a Filipino family of five is
pegged at P7,528 (~$157.5) per month or roughly P247 (~$5.2) a day
(Mapa, 2019). To put it into perspective, the same amount could buy a
plate of fried chicken and rice at a fast-food restaurant, usually priced
at around P75–90 (~$1.5–1.8), for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
for a month, feeding only 1 person without meeting the daily
recommended energy and nutrient intakes (RENI).
Despite minimum wage being pegged at P316 to P537 daily, about 1 in
20 Filipinos (5.27%) are still considered food poor and do not have
enough money to meet basic food & nutritional needs (Mapa, 2020).
However, the proportion of the food poor population is higher among
provinces in Visayas and Mindanao, particularly those far from urban
areas where more than 1 in 3 constituents are food poor, such as
Basilan (42%), Sulu (41.6%), and Lanao del Sur (38.3%).
Subsistence incidence by Province (data from Mapa, 2020)
Utilization of food
The third factor for achieving food security is food utilization which is
described by FAO as “proper biological use of food, requiring a diet
providing sufficient energy and essential nutrients, potable water, and
adequate sanitation.” The lack of healthier and more nutritious options
that don’t break the bank proves to be a challenge in meeting daily
nutritional requirements. Cheaper unhealthy food, such as junk food
and sweets, would appeal better to individuals in lower income levels
than fruits and vegetables of higher prices, as they are simply looking
for something to eat within their financial capacity (pang-laman-
tiyan or pantawid-gutom in Filipino) rather than the nutrition in it.
In a 2021 report, UNICEF, alongside the Department of Health (DOH),
National Nutrition Council (NNC), FAO, WHO, shared that failing food
systems and poor diets are heavily contributing to the prevalence of the
so-called triple burden of malnutrition, comprising undernutrition and
stunting, overnutrition and obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies in
children. That said, the lack of awareness and education on making
wise and mindful food choices is evident and needs to be combated
with strategic and effective information campaigns.
With the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be said that the
food security situation in the Philippines has worsened further with the
severe economic challenges that the country faces. Only 2 out of 5
Filipino households were able to sustain their overall food
consumption during the lockdown, and only 1 in 20 Filipino
individuals had enough money to survive the first three months of
lockdown (UNICEF, 2020). Given this, the risk for hunger and
malnutrition, alongside its long-term effects and consequences, is still
very much present, especially for those in more susceptible and
precarious environments.
Risks and hindrances
According to the Philippine report on the right to food assessment by
FAO, households with greater risk of suffering from hunger are those
with sizes of more than 4 members (~27.1%) and those with 3 or more
young dependents (~41.3%) due to the need for more funds to suffice
the nutritional requirements of all members of the family.
In terms of educational attainment, higher incidences of hunger are
seen in households whose heads have completed elementary education
only (18%), are elementary undergraduates (23.8%), and have no
educational experience whatsoever (32.5%) (Abad Santos, 2010) due to
the reliance of job opportunities and professional development on level
of educational attainment.
Those with formal and stable employment, whether it be in the private
(12.5%) or public (5.8%), are less susceptible to hunger than those who
are self-employed (19.6%). Notably, even those working in agriculture,
the prime sector of food security, and mining have higher incidences of
hunger (24.6% and 22.2% respectively) than those with the service
sector (6.8%) (Abad Santos, 2010). With this, the underdeveloped
agricultural sector can be seen as an emerging hindrance in the
industry, with the lack of technical infrastructure and skills-building
opportunities as primary issues being faced by farmers from reaching
the highest potential of the industry.
Inflation has also had significant effects on prices of food and related
resources which, in turn, affects the capacity of consumers to buy
essential goods within their budget and income.
Interventions and insufficiencies
In order to combat the food security challenge and its consequences,
the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Agrarian
Reform (DAR) have each spearheaded their own programs for farmers
and consumers alike. With their 2021 approved budget of P85.6 billion
(DA Communications Group, 2020), DA, the main agency for
agricultural development and food security, continues to lead projects
such as the food staple sufficiency program (DA, 2012) and agricultural
loans (DA Communications Group, 2020) to directly help farmers in
the conduct of their work, from tilling to harvesting, as well as
consumers in fulfilling their dietary and nutritional needs. Being the
main agency for agrarian reform and land redistribution, DAR, on the
other hand, has continued the implementation of the comprehensive
agrarian reform program which aims to redistribute private and public
land to beneficiary farmers and workers, with their budget of P8.8
billion (DAR, 2020).
At the height of the lockdowns, DA also launched the Rice Farmers
Financial Assistance (RFFA) and Financial Subsidy for Rice Farmers
(FSRF) programs with the Land Bank of the Philippines that each
aimed to provide financial assistance of P5,000 to 600,000 rice
farmers nationwide to aid in the fulfillment of their needs (DA-AFID,
2020), totaling to about P6 billion allocated for the assistance.
However, due to the increasing need for economic resiliency and
recovery among individuals and households amid the continuous
effects of the pandemic, concerned individuals and organizations have
also started various initiatives to help in ensuring food security at the
local level.
One of such initiatives is the community pantry movement. Starting
with a small roadside cart in Maginhawa Street, Quezon City led by
Ana Patricia Non, the idea of creating a pantry with various
commodities and goods where people can freely get what they need
and give what they can has become widespread, with hundreds of
pantries open in various cities and municipalities in the country
(Salcedo, 2021).
Steps for improving Food Security
Food security, social enterprises, and innovation
Despite the numerous initiatives spearheaded to provide equitable
access to food for all, it cannot be denied that there is a need for more
robust and long-term solutions in addressing the food security
challenge, leading to more structural and systematic changes.
We need to keep on spotlighting the conversation around food security
in order to increase the awareness of the general public on food
insecurity and the consequences it could cause not only to those who
are food or subsistence poor but also the entirety of Philippine society.
However, we should not stop at simply spreading awareness.
It is a must for us to use our knowledge, resources, and platform for
the good, and that also includes making our own effort in facing the
food security challenge head on. In the age of heightened dependence
on technology, it is just as important for us to explore new ways and
create innovative solutions in which we can be of help to the larger
community, and you don’t need to be a scientist or expert in food
security to start doing so.
Tackling and solving the complex food security situation that our
country faces is definitely a challenge. Taking steps towards
changemaking and innovating shouldn’t be that difficult, however, and
it starts with the simple prompt or push to make an impact for the
benefit of the broader masses in need.
