Manila: Senator Loren Legarda renewed her urgent call to address hunger in the Philippines, emphasizing the need for empathy, sustainability, and community strength.
According to Philippines News Agency, despite the country's agricultural abundance, hunger continues to impact millions. A recent Social Weather Stations survey revealed that one in four Filipino families, approximately 7.5 million households, experienced involuntary hunger in the past three months, marking the highest rate since the pandemic began. The Global Hunger Index categorizes the Philippines' hunger level as 'moderate,' indicating ongoing structural challenges in food access and distribution.
Legarda, a staunch advocate for sustainable living, practices what she preaches by cultivating herbs and vegetables in her backyard. However, she stresses that the fight against hunger must be rooted in both policy and collective, community-based solutions. She highlighted Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City, where a decades-old "gulayan sa barangay" (vegetable garden in the village) provides families with fresh produce, livelihood opportunities, and eco-products made from recycled waste. These small actions, she believes, are powerful wins grounded in care and local resilience.
The senator emphasized the urgency of fully implementing laws that impact agriculture and food security, including those she authored and sponsored. Key legislation includes the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act (RA 10000) for credit access to farmers, the Organic Agriculture Act (RA 10068) promoting chemical-free farming, and the Food and Drug Administration Act (RA 9711) enhancing food safety and consumer protection. She advocates for these laws to be complemented by grassroots programs that empower families and communities to build resilient food ecosystems through initiatives like Gulayan sa Paaralan (vegetable garden in school), edible landscaping, and community composting.
Legarda also actively engages in rescue buys from struggling farmers to prevent food wastage and address hunger. In February, she purchased one ton of cauliflowers from farmers in Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur, and distributed them to 700 residents of Tatalon, Quezon City, most of whom are indigent. She launched the Bayong-All-You-Can (BAYC) initiative in the Senate, where tons of fresh farm produce are bought from farmers nationwide and brought to the Senate. Senate employees are then invited to fill traditional bayongs (native utility bags) with fresh fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be wasted.
Additionally, Legarda co-authored and pushed for the Zero Food Waste Bill, seeking to institutionalize the recovery and redistribution of surplus edible food from commercial establishments to food-insecure communities. "We don't need grand solutions. We need committed ones," Legarda stated. "I've seen how a single garden can change a household. Now imagine what we can achieve as a nation when we till, grow, and rise together."
