ILOILO – To curb malnutrition in Maasin town, the local government is requiring its 50 barangays to grow vegetables and medicinal plants in communal gardens.
This will “promote a sustainable lifestyle and provide alternative treatment in case of emergencies and diseases,” said Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Inocencia Velasco who sponsored Municipal Ordinance No. 2022-002 mandating barangay communal gardens.
Data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) showed the increasing prevalence of under-nutrition in Maasin among children from zero to 59 months old. In 2021 it was at 9.15 percent; 5.46 percent in 2020; 5.37 percent in 2019; 4.70 percent in 2018; and 4.80 percent in 2017.
On stunting, the prevalence rate last year reached 17.75 percent; 9.22 percent in 2020; 6.74 percent in 2019; 8.28 percent in 2018; and 8.31 percent in 2017.
Stunting is defined as impaired growth and development experienced due to poor nutrition. Children who are stunted are too short for their age.
On wasting or acute nutritional deficiency, the prevalence rate in Maasin last year was at 5.25 percent; 3.56 percent in 2020; 2.43 percent in 2019; 3.48 percent in 2018; and 3.29 percent in 2017.
Wasting is the most immediate, visible and life-threatening form of malnutrition, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It results from the failure to prevent malnutrition among the most vulnerable children. Children with wasting are too thin and their immune systems are weak, leaving them vulnerable to developmental delays, disease and death.
Because of this, Velasco crafted an ordinance on communal gardens of vegetables and medicinal plants in Maasin.
“All barangays…are required to maintain year-round a backyard garden consisting of varieties of vegetables and medicinal plants. The produce of the said communal garden shall be enjoyed equally by the members of the community, in accordance to rules and regulations that may be prescribed by the barangay,” stated the ordinance.
The proper officials and/or designated point people or groups of the barangays shall be primarily responsible for the maintenance of the communal garden:
* Training and mentoring on current technology and techniques for sustainable backyard and/or urban gardening, such as but not limited to self-watering bottle gardening and backyard plot gardening, is hereby recommended.
* Use of organic fertilizers is strongly encouraged.
Moreover, the ordinance requires the planting of anti-dengue plants in strategic areas within the barangay.
However, before any of this can happen, the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) must first hold a series of orientations, seminars, and trainings on the development and proper care of organic food gardens.
In addition, the Municipal Health Office (MHO) will also conduct seminars and orientations to educate households about the use and benefits of different medicinal plants.
Funding for the implementation of this ordinance will be allotted by the local government unit, MAO and MHO.
Maasin local government will also formulate the implementing rules and regulations for the said ordinance.
The 50 barangays of Maasin are the following: Abay, Abilay, Agrocel Poblacion, Amerang, Bagacay East, Bacuranan, Bagacay West, Bug-ot, Bolo, Bulay, Buntalan, Burak, Cabangcalan, Cabatac, Caigon, Cananghan, Canawili, Dagami, Daja, Dalusan, Delcar Poblacion, Inabasan, Layog, Linagan Calsda, Linagan Tacas, Linab, Mabriz Poblacion, Magsaysay, Mandog, Miapa, Nagba, Nasaka, Naslo-Bucao, Nasuli, Panalian, Piandaan East, Piandaan West, Pispis, Punong, Sinubsuban, Siwalo, Santa Rita, Subog, Taft-Hughes-Thompson-del Pilar, Tigbauan, Trangka, Tubang, Tulahong, Tuy-an East, Tuy-an West, and Ubian./PN
