Introduction

There is concern on a global scale that current soil management practices have an adverse effect on soils
and that for some soils and land use combinations current practices might not be sustainable 1. Serbia
experienced considerable land use changes in the first half of the nineteenth century due to an increased
demand for agricultural products. This led to extensive cutting of native deciduous forests and conversion
into arable land and meadows2. Deforestation is a visible land degradation driver in the environment. It
causes multiple changes that can manifest through the reduction of soil chemical and physical properties,
leading to soil quality decline and continuining reduction of productivity. The transformation of soil
organic matter (SOM) in cultivated soils, if no organic fertilizers are applied, leads to soil degradation and
eventual inability to ensure sustainable agricultural production. Pérez-Bejarano3 found that organic
carbon content was well related with most physical, chemical and biochemical soil properties. Physical
soil properties, such as bulk density (ρ b), particle density (ρs) and soil total porosity (TP), have a strong
impact on the exchange of energy and matter between the atmosphere and the pedosphere4. Particle
density data are of major importance in soil research because ρ s is needed to estimate TP, rate of particle
sedimentation, relative saturation, thermal conductivity, heat capacity, and volumetric water-to-air ratios.
Specific uses of ρs include modeling of water, air and heat flow processes, as well as transport of
chemicals in the soil5,6, or are used to calibrate soil moisture sensors7. However, ρs is usually not
determined experimentally, but assumed to vary from 2.60–2.70 Mg m–3 or to be equal to a constant value
of 2.65 Mg m–38. This ρs value is acceptable for some soils, but variations in the composition of soil
solids, such as a reduced SOM content, can lead to a substantial increase in ρ s because the density of
SOM is lower than that of mineral particles. Consequently, the determination of soil properties, which
requires ρs as an input, is generally based on an assumed constant value of ρs.
Different land uses are not expected to have a significant effect on ρ s, but changes in SOM due to soil
management types can alter ρ s. For example, the conversion of forests into meadows and arable land
reduces soil organic carbon pools1,9. The effect of this reduced SOM on ρ s has not been well documented
in the literature but the general assumption is that any change in ρ s would be negligible6, which might not
be exact. Only a few studies that compare the values of ρ s as a result of SOM changes due to different
long-term (> 100 years) land uses have been reported worldwide.
Total soil porosity is one of the most important properties determined directly by means of ρ s which is
often calculated using assumed standard value of ρ s9,10. Thus, the potential effect of land use on ρ s was
not taken into account. Characterization of ρ s for different soil management practices, with variable SOM
of the same soil, is a priority area of research because ρ s variations due to different land uses, in cases
where soil properties are assessed based on ρs, are seldom quantified in the literature6.
SOM variations due to long-term land use and tillage impacts also affect the soil plastic limits, because of
the high water absorption capacity of organic matter and interactions with soil mineral particles, which
affect the bond strength and surface tension properties of soils11. However, plastic limits are rarely part
of routine soil analyses12. Plastic limits can be used to determine the optimal water content for tillage
without adversely affecting the soil structure13 and are also useful in assessing the impact of long-term
land use and tillage on the mechanical and rheological behavior of soil. The correlation between SOM
and plastic limits can be strong, weak or non-existent, depending on other soil properties 14,15,16,17, such
as origin of SOM, clay type and mineralogy, soil texture, nature of exchanged cations, and soil-crop
management. These conflicting conclusions necessitate additional research, to shed more light on the
correlation between SOM and plastic limits6,17. Quantitative LL and PL data are needed in areas where
such information is not available18. The negative effects of long-term tillage on soil physical properties,
and resulting soil degradation have not been widely recognized in the world and thus are poorly
documented.
Consequently, the present research focuses on quantification of the effects of long-term land use changes
and agricultural practices on soil degradation for three land uses including native deciduous forest and
deforested area used as meadow and arable land through: (1) comparison of ρ s and soil consistency of
non-carbonate, silty clay Fluvisols; (2) comparison of TP determined using constant value of ρ s and
measured values of ρs; and (3) evaluating the relationships among SOM, ρ s and plastic limits. We
hypothesized that land use is dominant factor controlling SOM and that SOM content strongly affects
various soil physical properties (ρs, ρb and TP) and plastic limits of non-calcareous Fluvisol of western
Serbia. The information gathered from this research will improve knowledge about how ρ s, TP and
consistency of soil vary as a function of land use. The results enable a better understanding of
deforestation as a driver of human-induced soil degradation and necessity to utilize sustainable land
management practices.

Source:

1. Sparling, G. P., Shepherd, T. G. & Schipper, L. A. Topsoil characteristics of

three contrasting New Zealand soils under four long-therm land uses. New
Zeal. J. Agric. Res.43, 569–583 (2000).
2. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-70464-6

Abstract
The conversion of natural vegetation to agricultural land uses in mountainous Andean landscapes
threatens an array of key ecological processes and ecosystem services (ES). In protected areas and
buffer regions that provide water to cities, it is critical to understand how interactions between plants
and soil communities sustain a range of ecosystem functions associated with nutrient recycling, soil
structure, and erosion control. We sought to examine how land use conversion within a mountainous
tropical forest landscape influences the diversity of vegetation and soil macrofauna communities, soil
physicochemical properties, and hydrological regulation services. Biodiversity and a suite of key soil-
based ES were compared in five major land uses of the Cali River watershed: (1) annual cropping
systems, (2) coffee plantations, (3) pastures, (4) abandoned shrubland, and (5) secondary forests. The
diversity of woody and herbaceous vegetation, as well as soil macrofauna, was assessed in each land
use. Soil chemical fertility and aggregate morphology were assessed via laboratory analyses and
visual separation of soil aggregates based on their origin. Infiltration, runoff, and sediment production
were measured using a portable rainfall simulator. We found a decrease in the diversity of woody
vegetation across land uses to be associated with lower diversity of soil macrofauna. At the same
time, agricultural management, annual crops in particular, supports the largest earthworm
populations, likely due to increased organic inputs and low impact tillage, which appears not to
diminish soil fertility and water infiltration. In contrast, the low soil fertility in pastures was
associated with the lowest values of soil C, poor aggregation, and high bulk density and likely reflects
overgrazing, with negative implications for water infiltration and erosion. Associations between the
different sets of variables, evaluated with co-inertia analysis, highlight the hierarchical relevance of
plant cover and woody diversity on ES. The biological complexity associated with intact forest cover
appears to generate “bundles” of co-occurring ES, with this land use demonstrating the highest
infiltration, and low runoff and sediment losses. Our findings demonstrate that forests and tree-based
agricultural systems may better contribute to the provision of multiple ES, including biodiversity
conservation and hydrologic regulation.
INTRODUCTION
In the 20th century, large-scale transformation of natural ecosystems toward intensified agriculture
and livestock operations has contributed to greater food production, but this has occurred at the
expense of key regulating and supporting ecosystem services (ES) (Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment, 2005; Tallis & Polasky, 2009). This decline in the provision of ES at a global scale
highlights the need to develop alternative agroecosystems that can maintain productivity, but also
generate multiple ES, especially in areas of high biodiversity and ecological fragility (Bennett et
al., 2009). In the Andean region, the intensification of these agricultural landscapes can have
considerable effects on ES with regard to soil processes, leading to decreased fertility (Caulfield et
al., 2020; de Valença et al., 2017), reduced water infiltration potential, lower water holding capacity,
and decreased soil stability and erosion control (Guzman et al., 2019; Otero et al., 2011;
Zimmerer, 1993). Increased use of fertilizers with agricultural intensification can increase food and
fiber production (Rolando et al., 2018), but often diminishes the provision of other ES related to
hydrological function and water quality (Bennett et al., 2009; Rolando et al., 2017).
Conversion of natural vegetation to agriculture and other land uses can also affect local biodiversity,
including belowground organisms (Grimaldi et al., 2014; Lavelle et al., 2014; Negrete-Yankelevich et
al., 2007) with important implications for hydrological regulation (Bruijnzeel, 2004). In some
highland regions of the Andes, the transformation of natural cover can lead to irreversible changes in
soil structure and function. For example, conversion of paramo to pine plantations in Ecuador resulted
in a 50% decrease in water yield (Buytaert et al., 2007). Also, it has been shown that conversion of
 natural ecosystems to cultivated and intensively grazed land can lead to increased peaks of water
yield and severe reduction during low flows (Crespo et al., 2010).
In contrast to more intensive agricultural practices, agroecosystems that conserve surface residues and
healthy soil macrofauna communities (e.g., agroforestry) help to improve soil aggregation, due to
reduced raindrop impact and the formation of stable biogenic structures by edaphic fauna
(Lavelle, 2002). These biological soil aggregates have greater resistance to degradation and support
multiple ES such as soil C storage, infiltration, and nutrient retention (Brussaard, 2012; Elliott &
Coleman, 1988; Lavelle et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2013). Although the importance of forests for the
conservation of soil biodiversity and the maintenance of soil structure is well recognized
(Brussaard, 2012; Lavelle, 2002), impacts of land use conversion on both plants and soil macrofauna,
and the implications for diverse soil processes remain poorly understood; this is especially true for
aboveground–belowground biological interactions that influence hydrological regulation and related
ecological functions.
The development of effective public policies is often limited by a lack of knowledge in priority
conservation areas. The region under consideration here, the Farallones de Cali National Park (in
western Colombia) and its buffer areas, represents a key biodiversity hot spot (Myers et al., 2000), but
it is representative of many tropical areas and remains poorly studied with regard to biodiversity and
associated ES provision. This region forms part of the Cali River watershed and comprises
conservation and special management areas with great importance for the provision of water to the
city of Cali, with nearly 2.2 million inhabitants. Over the last several decades, much of this
mountainous landscape surrounding the city has gone through a process of transformation, from
native forest to agricultural production. The land uses now occupying formerly forested areas include
coffee plantations, annual crops (mainly vegetables), cattle grazing, and abandoned areas dominated
by shrubs that have not yet returned to forest (UNIVALLE CVC, 2007). Although local legislation
aims to regulate land management impacts and this region is located in a protected zone for providing
water to the city, knowledge regarding the impacts of land use intensification on biodiversity and the
provision of multiple ES remains limited. The present study sought to address this knowledge gap by
examining the effects of common land uses on biodiversity (of plant and soil macroinvertebrates),
soil physicochemical properties, and hydrological properties. We hypothesized that (1) the conversion
from forest to agricultural land uses decreases soil chemical fertility and water infiltration, while
increasing runoff and sediment loss via erosion, and (2) the provision of soil-based ES decreases with
decreasing diversity of plant and soil macroinvertebrate communities along a gradient of intensifying
land use.

Source: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecs2.3979

Climate change, natural disasters, and the COVID 19 lockdowns have had an
enormous impact on the Agricultural sector in the Philippines. Coupled with the growing
population and the limited land resources the country's production is unable to keep up
with the demand. All of these combined in recent years served as a wake-up call for the
country to address food security. The crisis has contributed to the alarming numbers of
malnutrition and hunger in the country. The country has always had the goal of self-
sufficiency but most of the country is reliant on imports such as rice for food needs; this
reliance on imports has only grown in recent years.

One way to address the issue of food security is to promote the local agriculture and
fisheries industry. Not only does society have to buy from local farms but measures to
enhance the competitiveness of our agriculture and fisheries must be implemented
along with policies to ensure its sustainable growth. How we promote our local food
items to the market and directly connect this to our local farmers is an obstacle we need
to address since food security is a community effort consisting of government aid and
support from the private sector and consumers.

In line with this, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines will be hosting
a webinar entitled, "Go Local: CommUNITY Towards Food Security" which will be
held on 23 August 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM (GMT +8) via Zoom. The webinar
aims to discuss and emphasize how the community plays a part in achieving food
security. By this means, the above-mentioned conference will provide methods and
tools for promoting local farms to the consumer market and providing these
opportunities to farmers.

Source: Go Local: CommUNITY Towards Food Security (eccp.com)

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic placed the Philippines’ food and nutrition issues
front and center. In this paper, we discuss the response of its government in addressing
food and nutrition security at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and describe its
implications on nutritional status. We also cite initiatives that address food accessibility
and availability in the communities. Lastly, we explore the importance of nutrition
security dimension in food security.

Methods: We analyze food and nutrition security issues in the Philippines during the
COVID-19 pandemic through online reports and news articles.

Results: The distribution of food and financial assistance in the country was extensive,
albeit insufficient, considering the prolonged lockdown restrictions. Constantly changing
community quarantine guidelines have affected the movement of food supply, delivery
of health services, and household economic security. Nutrition programs, such as
vitamin A supplementation, feeding for children, and micronutrient supplementation for
pregnant women, had lower coverage rates, and by the latter half of 2020, the country
had reached its highest recorded hunger rate. Cases of both undernutrition and
overnutrition are predicted to rise because of dietary imbalances and a variety of
factors. Conversely, community members and some local government units took it upon
themselves to improve the food situation in their areas. The provision of food packs
containing fresh fruits and vegetables was lauded, as it exemplified a conscious effort to
deal with nutrition security.

Conclusion: Efforts to address food security have always focused on increasing

accessibility, availability, and affordability, often neglecting the nutritional components of
foods. Strategies that incorporate nutrition security into food security are much needed
in the country, especially during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: food security, nutrition security, food assistance, Philippines, coronavirus

disease 2019 (COVID-19)

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Introduction

In 2020, the world was confronted with one of the most significant threats to food and
nutrition security. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected
every aspect of the food chain from production, distribution, retail, to consumption.
Movement and border restrictions have challenged the food supply chain globally.
Governments scrambled to sustain food stock in the market while enforcing control
measures that inevitably prolonged the replenishment of supplies. Owing to the looming
food crisis, consumers felt the need to bulk purchase food items for personal
sustenance. The dire condition only underscored the inequity already experienced by
the vulnerable undernourished groups. The World Food Programme (WFP) has
projected that 265 million people from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) will be
affected by acute food insecurity due to the economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic1).

In this paper, we discuss the immediate response of the government of Philippines to

addressing food and nutrition security at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and
describe its implications on nutritional status. We also cite initiatives that address food
accessibility and availability in the communities. Lastly, we explore further the
importance of nutrition security dimension in food security.

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Immediate Response

Following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a

pandemic on March 11th, 20202), a Food Resiliency Task Force was urgently formed by
the Department of Agriculture (DA)3). The unit’s function was to ensure the availability,
affordability, accessibility, and safety of food supply in Metro Manila and other areas 3).
After a week, the landmark legislation Republic Act (RA) 11469, also known as the
“Bayanihan to Heal as One Act”, was enacted to set forth COVID-19 response
procedures, standards, and guiding principles4). This law authorizes the President of the
Philippines to exercise temporary special powers to address the impact of the
pandemic. Several stipulations have been included but the following are the ones
pertaining to food. Among the special powers is the provision of financial assistance
through the social amelioration package to 18 million low-income families for the
purchase of food and basic commodities. Additionally, the law also necessitated the
unhampered movement and operation of essential goods and services, especially in the
food and agricultural sectors. Hoarding, profiteering, price manipulation, and product
deception to food supply, distribution, and movement are penalized4).

With the law in place, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
together with local government units (LGUs), hastened assistance distribution to the
most vulnerable populations5). Relief efforts were extensive, and most Filipinos reported
receiving ayuda (Spanish for aid or assistance) either in the form of food or money,
especially at the beginning of lockdown. A report by the Food and Nutrition Research
Institute (FNRI) found that 96.6% of the households they surveyed received food
assistance from their LGU or the private sector6). Of those households who
received ayuda, half of them received it 2 to 3 times, while the other 42.6% received it
more than 3 times6).

The usual food items provided were rice and cereals (93.2%), canned and other dry
goods (82.6%), instant coffee (31.3%), and milk and other dairy products (14.0%) 6). This
food composition is expected from city or municipal social welfare units, which are the
primary distributors of relief goods at the local level. It has been customary for food
relief systems across the country to favor quantity over quality. The DSWD oversees
donations and relief operations in the country. According to the department’s guidelines,
their donation facilities prefer to accept non-perishable goods and foods that are not
easily damaged. Conversely, donated food items with a shelf life of less than 30 days
are subjected to additional paperwork before they can be allocated and utilized 7). This
practice makes it challenging to incorporate fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables,
in the DSWD relief packages.

In addition to food, most LGUs provide cash assistance to their residents. Of the
households surveyed by the FNRI, 62.9% reported receiving cash assistance 6).
Although some households received both forms of ayuda, the cash assistance they
received was still allotted to food. This was evidenced by the joint DSWD and World
Food Program (WFP)’s Remote Household Monitoring Survey conducted between June
and August 2020 to determine cash assistance expenditures 8). Among the respondents,
92% reported using their cash assistance to buy food; furthermore, 67% opted to buy
“less-preferred and less-expensive foods8)”.

The barter system has made an unexpected but timely comeback in the country. As
livelihoods have been affected by the pandemic, cash flow has been slow in many
households. In addition to borrowing money and buying food on credit, some Filipinos
resorted to online bartering to obtain food6).

According to the iPrice Group, a meta-search website, Google searches for the terms
“barter” and “barter trade” increased rapidly in April and May, immediately following the
lockdown in March9). The group also recorded 85 barter groups on Facebook, 72% of
which were outside of Metro Manila. Commonly bartered goods included food and
grocery items, such as canned food, milk, fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat. By May,
the more specific term “barter food” increased in searches by 300% 9). Bartering
experiences range from swapping shoes for chicken to trading baby clothes for six kilos
of rice10). The ease of converting old items into food makes this a popular coping
mechanism.

Apart from food and cash assistance, some LGUs also provided food production
assistance to aid in farming costs. The FNRI survey revealed that only 12.5% of the
respondents received food production assistance, most of whom belonged to areas with
low COVID-19 infection rates6). Agriculture is one of the most vital sectors that must
remain in operation. To further help local farmers, the Department of Agriculture (DA)
appealed to the LGUs to buy local farmers’ produce 11). This would be an advantageous
deal for producers, consumers, and authorities. Farmers would be able to secure a
market for their crops, while consumers are guaranteed the freshest produce. At the
same time, movement and delivery logistics are minimized when produce is outsourced
from the nearest farmers. The DA has established linkages between the LGU in
metropolitan areas and local farmer producers to facilitate the operation11).

However, in some cases, the supply of crops eventually exceeded the demand from the
LGUs. Some farmers struggled with the oversupply of certain crops, being consequently
compelled to throw them away12). In other instances, changes in the enforcement of
community quarantine to stricter measures jeopardized farming businesses. In Ifugao
province, one farmer was forced to dump his tomato harvest because the supposed
buyers were unable to pass through the “no vaccination, no entry” checkpoints along
the way13).

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Nutritional Status

Meanwhile, the effects of COVID-19 on the implementation of four nutrition-specific

programs were also evident in the FNRI report. Generally, these programs had lower
coverage rates in 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) than in 2019, prior to the
pandemic. The coverage rates were reduced by at least 16% for Vitamin A
supplementation to as much as about 45% for supplementary feeding 6). For Operation
Timbang (OPT) Plus, an annual growth monitoring among children showed that the
coverage rate decreased from 83.0% to 51.1% 6). In other words, 48.9% of children aged
0–12 years were not weighed or measured for height6). The reason for non-participation
in OPT Plus was mainly lockdown restrictions, and no health workers visited them 6).
Additionally, the report revealed that the majority of children (88.1%) across the different
risk areas did not receive supplementary feeding 6). Among those who received
supplementary feeding (11.9%), the average duration of feeding was approximately 12
days, wherein the children mostly received family food packs and cooked food 6).
Furthermore, only 10.6% of children aged 6–60 months receive micronutrient powder 6).

For micronutrient supplementation availed by pregnant women, the reports showed no

data on the coverage rate before the pandemic, but it mentioned that 14.2% of them did
not take supplements6). The top two reasons stated in the report were (1) they do not
have money to buy vitamins (28.6%), and (2) they are waiting for the prescription of
supplements (28.6%)6). Regarding the dietary supplementation, 92.6% of pregnant
women did not receive it6).

For breastfeeding practices, the pandemic did not drastically affect mothers’
breastfeeding practices. The rate of breastfeeding increased from 2019 to 2020,
although the difference was not statistically significant. The same trend was observed in
the rate of complementary feeding6).

The pandemic intensified food insecurity in the country, leaving vulnerable groups more
susceptible to hunger. According to the Social Weather Stations (SWS), the incidence
of self-reported involuntary hunger rose to an all-time high rate of 30.7% in the middle of
202014). As shown in Figure 1, the subsequent hunger incidences fell considerably by
2021 and 2022 but remained above pre-pandemic levels15).
Figure 1

National total hunger incidence per quarter (2019–2022)15).

Stunting is also expected to increase because of pandemic-related disruptions in

healthcare delivery, food systems, and the economy. As previously mentioned, the
lockdown made it difficult to implement essential maternal and child health services.
Furthermore, not only movement restrictions but also the sudden loss of livelihood have
reduced people’s access to nutritious foods. In the Philippines, 30% of children under 5
years of age are stunted; this places the country among the top 10 countries with a high
stunting prevalence16). A study by Osendarp et al. estimated the stunting of 2.6 million
additional children worldwide by 2022 owing to interruptions brought about by COVID-
1917).

As the pandemic continues, people are accustomed to a lifestyle of increased

technology dependency and reduced physical activity. According to a report, 85% of
Filipino adolescents were not engaging enough in physical activities before the
pandemic18). Therefore, it is not difficult to imagine that prolonged home confinement
would result in heightened sedentariness. The prevalence of obesity had been steadily
increasing, especially in Asia, even before the pandemic 19). According to a bulletin by
the Philippine News Agency, the number of overweight Filipino adolescents has tripled
in the last 15 years, with most of them living in urban areas20).

However, being overweight and obese is not only confined to households with abundant
food. Food-insecure families are also at risk of obesity 21). In this population, people tend
to stretch out their earnings to cover longer days, thus resorting to cheap, usually
nutrient-poor foods to avoid being completely hungry in the following days. This
situation has been described as nutritional insecurity in the presence of abundant
calories22).

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Community Initiatives

Healthy food packs, mobile markets, and community pantries were notable initiatives to
address food and nutrition security in the communities. The common motivation behind
such ventures is to make food accessible and available to as many households as
possible.
As mentioned in the FNRI survey, pandemic food packs mainly consisted of non-
perishable food items6). Even so, there have been several instances wherein fresh foods
have been prioritized in the distribution of food packs in some LGUs. These efforts were
recognized and lauded by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) on their Facebook
page23).

Mandaluyong City was one of the earliest LGUs to supply fresh vegetables in food relief
packs24). “NUTRI-Bags” containing a variety of fruits and vegetables, eggs,
micronutrients, and iodized salt, were handed out to households with 6-to 59-month-old
children and to pregnant or lactating mothers in the Municipality of Talacogon in Agusan
Del Sur25). Similarly, Barangay Bagacay in Romblon supplemented the usual bag of rice
and canned goods with fish, pumpkin, and tomatoes 26). Some LGUs in Maguindanao
and the Zamboanga Peninsula then distributed their local farmers’ harvests to their
residents27). Meanwhile, some municipalities in the Cagayan Valley handed out
vegetable seeds, seedlings, beans, and live chickens28).

Mobile markets or palengke (in Tagalog) is another local government initiative that
emerged at the height of the lockdown. Pasig, Valenzuela, and Quezon were among the
first LGUs to dispatch mobile markets to their barangays. The Pasig local government
introduced mobile markets in the form of medium-sized trucks to limit foot traffic in their
public markets, especially the Pasig Mega Market, which is one of the largest wet
markets in Metro Manila29). Meat and produce offered in the mobile markets were also
sourced from Pasig Mega Market vendors and sold at the same price 29). Valenzuela
City’s “Market on Wheels” made use of their electronic tricycles (e-trike) that were
refashioned into mini roving stores30). This initiative was launched to reduce market
congestion and maintain social distancing30). Meanwhile, the Quezon City government
transformed a jeepney into a mobile market and partnered with farmers to sell fresh
produce, meat, and dairy products directly to the public at much lower prices than
markets or groceries31).

The concept of community pantries and food banks is not new. However, the sense of
community and mutual aid brought about by the emergence of community pantries,
especially during the pandemic, have been remarkable. Initially seen along the street of
Maginhawa, Quezon City, in April 2021, what was once an idea to help pandemic-
stricken families has now expanded to a national movement 32). This initiative goes by a
simple give and take principle—give according to your means and take according to
your needs32). In a matter of weeks, individuals, companies, and even schools were
forming community pantries in their own areas32). The goods were mostly vegetables,
rice, and canned foods, while other pantries included COVID-19 essentials, such as
masks32). Some organizers even coordinated with local farmers and bought their surplus
crops32).
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Nutrition Dimension

In principle, adequate nutrition should be a key element in attaining food security.

Although this component seems to be implied in the definition of food security, the
nutrition dimension is often overlooked in practice 33), with food security being solely
attributed to the availability and accessibility of food commodities34).

As similar notions were raised in other countries, a multi-stakeholder effort to address

nutritional outcomes in national and sectoral food and nutrition security strategies was
proposed in the Road Map for Scaling-Up Nutrition (SUN)35). Eventually, a definition for
nutrition security was introduced by the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) of the
United Nations (UN) in 2012, wherein nutrition security was described as a condition
that “exists when all people at all times consume food of sufficient quantity and quality in
terms of variety, diversity, nutrient content, and safety to meet their dietary needs and
food preferences for an active and healthy life, coupled with a sanitary environment,
adequate health, education and care36)”.

In the Philippines, food security issues are separated from nutrition issues and are often
viewed from an agricultural lens37). For the longest time, efforts have focused towards
achieving available and accessible foods. Certainly, these are prerequisites to good
nutrition. However, it is also important to know that food security will not be realized if
there is no nutrition security. If foods (especially, nutrient-rich foods) are not properly
allocated and utilized, such as in the overabundance or misutilization of some crops, an
imbalance of the food system occurs. This, in turn, may lead to economic effects
(stability of food prices) that have implications for food insecurity.

As nutrition security has become more widely discussed in the scientific community, it is
imperative that its concepts are instilled and translated into real-life settings.
Administrators, policymakers, and other stakeholders need to be more aware of the
nutritional aspects of food security to effectively guide food and nutrition strategies.

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Conclusion
Indeed, the government of Philippines was quick to respond to a potential food system
disruption at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, certain mechanisms are
still lacking in terms of sustaining a food system that is responsive to the nutritional
needs of people, particularly of the vulnerable groups. In emergency situations, such as
a pandemic, it is crucial that the food supply chain remains operational. Furthermore, it
is equally important that nutritious foods be the preferred type of food for distribution.
Community experiences show that integrating fresh food and nutrition in food relief
efforts is possible. Linking local farmers to food banks is also a sustainable solution that
needs to be reinforced. Lastly, changing the food security landscape to one that
simultaneously tackles nutrition security would have more beneficial health and
economic outcomes in the country.

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Conflict of interest

None.

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References

1. World Food Program. COVID-19 will double number of people facing food crises
unless swift action is taken. 2020. Available from: https://www.wfp.org/news/covid-19-
will-double-number-people-facing-food-crises-unless-swift-action-taken.

2. World Health Organization. WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media

briefing on COVID-19—11 March 2020. March 2020. Available
from: https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-
opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19—11-march-2020.

3. Department of Agriculture. Special Order No. 335 Series of 2020 Creation of the
COVID-19 Food Resiliency Task Force. 2020. Available
from: https://www.da.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/so335_s2020.pdf.
4. Republic of the Philippines. Republic Act No. 11469: Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
2020. Available
from: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2020/03mar/20200324-RA-11469-
RRD.pdf.

5. Philippine News Agency. Gov’t to provide food to families during quarantine period.
March 2020. Available from: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1097188.

6. Food and Nutrition Research Institute. Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey on Food
Security, Coping Mechanisms, and Nutrition Services Availed during COVID-19
Pandemic in Selected Areas in the Philippines. Available
from: http://enutrition.fnri.dost.gov.ph/site/uploads/RNAS%20Virtual%20Dissemination
%20to%20Partners.pdf.

7. Department of Social Welfare and Development. Administrative Order No. 51 Series

of 2003 Omnibus Guidelines and Procedures on the Maintenance and Operation of the
National Resource Operations Center (NROC). 2003. Available
from: https://www.dswd.gov.ph/issuances/AOs/AO_2003-051.pdf.

8. Cudis C. Survey says SAP recipients use aid to buy food, pay off debts. 2020.
Available from: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117665.

9. Mendoza M. “I-barter mo na!”—The resurgence of bartering in the Philippines.

Available from: https://iprice.ph/trends/insights/the-resurgence-of-bartering-in-the-
philippines.