Davao City, Philippines — Backyard and container gardening are being strongly advocated by barangay nutrition workers and health officials in Davao City as vital tools in the fight against malnutrition and food insecurity, especially in urban and low-income communities.
During the 51st Nutrition Month celebration in Barangay Subasta on July 9, officials from the City Health Office (CHO) underscored the need for households to grow their own vegetables to ensure access to nutritious, chemical-free food.
Ines Jesmir Santos, Nutrition Officer II of the CHO and district nutrition officer for 19 barangays in Calinan District, highlighted the agency’s campaign to encourage every household to maintain a small garden.
“We usually emphasize food security in every household. We advocate that they should have vegetable gardens free of fertilizers. With this, they don’t need to go to the market. Anytime they can pick fresh produce for cooking,” said Santos in an interview with Madayaw. “We require at least five kinds of vegetables per household to promote variety and better nutrition.”
The City Health Office, in collaboration with the City Agriculturist’s Office, has been distributing seeds and seedlings to residents, particularly to those in vulnerable sectors — including families with malnourished children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. This initiative supports the national goal of achieving both food and nutrition security at the grassroots level.
One of the beneficiaries is Angele Astrologo Latibo, a mother of three who maintains a mini-garden in the limited space of their boarding house.
“We don’t have land because we’re just renting, but I’ve managed to plant vegetables in containers,” she shared. “It helps us stretch our food budget and keeps the children healthy.”
Latibo currently grows okra, eggplant, and string beans, using chicken manure as fertilizer. The small harvest is enough to supplement their daily meals and lessen their dependence on store-bought vegetables.
Barangay Subasta Councilor Ruby Mahipus, chair of the Committee on Health, also stressed the importance of proper nutrition and the avoidance of processed food, especially for young children and infants. She said regular information drives are conducted in the community to promote healthy eating practices.
The Nutrition Month celebration at Subasta Barangay Hall brought together day care pupils, parents, barangay officials, health workers, and staff from Councilors Potpot and Enzo Villafuerte’s offices. The event was one of many similar gatherings across the city’s 182 barangays.
CHO Nutrition Division Head Elizabeth Banzon noted that the observance of Nutrition Month took various creative forms — from cooking contests judged by children to localized feeding programs — all aimed at strengthening the core message: food and nutrition security must go hand in hand.
“We want to bring back the value of food that’s grown by our own hands. A simple garden can make a real difference — not just in health but also in resilience,” Banzon said.
With the rise in food prices and ongoing climate uncertainties, the city’s push for household-level gardening offers a sustainable and empowering solution. In these small plots and pots, Davao City sees the seeds of food security taking root.