BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Prices of food in Western Visayas have steadily risen since 2019, according to the Regional Development Council (RDC).
Food inflation rate peaked at an average of 7.9 percent in 2022, making it the third highest among regions.
Among the provinces, Negros Occidental posted the highest food inflation rate at 10.8 percent, followed by Antique at 9.0 percent and Guimaras at 8.8 percent, the council reported in its Regional Development Plan for 2023 – 2028.
Iloilo posted the lowest rate for the same period at 5.5 percent, the council noted.
It attributed the escalation in food inflation to the rising cost of production due to increasing energy and oil costs, the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, which resulted in high prices of pork products, as well as the food supply chain disruptions.
“Food prices are likely to remain relatively high and price volatility is expected to become more common in the future highlighting the fragility of the regional food system,” RDC said.
The council also noted the change in consumer preferences and dietary patterns and the ways people produce, process, acquire, and consume food.
“Changes in activity and dietary patterns have contributed to the transition in nutrition which faces a rising level of obesity associated with excessive consumption while continuing to deal with problems of undernutrition,” the council said.
The prevalence of malnutrition among children in Western Visayas also increased, adversely affecting the physical growth and cognitive development of the unborn and young children, the council said.
Citing data from the National Nutrition Council Region 6, the RDC-6 said there is an increasing trend in the prevalence of stunting among children ages zero to 59 months old for the region from 7.65 percent in 2019 to 5.15 percent in 2022.
The prevalence of stunting is highest in Antique at 9.83 percent and slowest in Iloilo at 4.37 percent.
To ensure food security, the collaboration of government and private sectors is necessary to attain a sufficient and stable supply of food commodities, the council stressed.
This can be achieved by expanding access of consumers to affordable, safe and nutritious food, and improving nutrition across ages, the council added.
“Concerted efforts are required to end food insecurity and hunger within a generation. Strategies need to be translated into policies and programs to reduce food insecurity and eradicate hunger by providing available, affordable, and accessible safe and nutritious food in the region,” the council said.
Likewise, the council developed strategies to ensure food security and proper nutrition. These include boosting the productivity and resiliency of the local agriculture and fisheries sector to achieve sufficient and stable food commodities.
The RDC-6 acknowledged that agriculture plays a crucial role in ensuring food security in the region. It added that farmers and fishermen are challenged by the continuous increase in price inputs, changing weather conditions, markets, and climate.
“Improvement of agricultural and fishery productivity shall be addressed through the distribution of quality inputs, providing high breed animals, the establishment of smart greenhouses especially during the off-season, establishment of multiplier farms and provision of farm machinery and equipment,” the council said.
It said that access of consumers to affordable, safe and nutritious food shall be expanded by promoting private investments in logistics systems to ensure faster and unhampered movement of food products.
“Investments in infrastructures such as warehouses, cold storage facilities, slaughterhouses, farm-to-market roads, and post-harvest facilities will be prioritized,” the council said.
The RCDC-6 added: “Improvement in the logistics system will adopt digital technologies to ensure effective and efficient movement of perishable goods.”/PN
