Monday, March 26, 2007 Pinoys told to spend wisely
THE regional office of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) in Nothern Mindanao said the issue of hunger cannot be totally attributed to poverty and lack of opportunity but also to the spending patterns of the people.
Neda Regional Director Myra V. Balanda said Filipinos must spend on the basic needs first before the luxuries so children will have enough to eat.
"Fighting hunger is a constant priority of the government and the focus on growing the economy, revitalizing the infrastructure, pushing anti-poverty programs and the overall drive for investments and jobs will help dent the incidence of hunger," she said.
She said the government takes the report of the Social Weather Station that a number of Filipino families go hungry with urgency and is working to pinpoint the specific areas and communities where hunger may be rife so that effective intervention can be mounted.
Balandra said the government has been putting up rolling stores in poor communities, checking on food prices in the markets ad making sure food transport routes are running smoothly from farm to markets.
In the local scene, however, she said, RDC-Northern Mindanao passed a resolution supporting the implementation of the "Garden of Go, Grow and Glow Foods" or G4, a banner project initiated by the Regional Nutrition Committee to serve as a practical strategy to combat malnutrition and alleviate poverty in the region.
She said under the G4 concept, people need not use their money to buy vegetables in the market but grow them in reusable containers in their own backyards.
This to ensure that only organic fertilizers are used or they may plant them in a communal garden, if there is no available space for a garden in their homes, Balandra said.
Balandra is Vice-Chairperson of the Regional Development Council in the region. She said the project is highlighted by the Search for Outstanding G4 gardens in both households and communal categories, implementation of which is highly supported by the local government units.
Meanwhile, in partnership with RDC- Northern Mindanao and the Lanao del Norte Provincial Government, the ACT for Peace Program has agreed to make G4 as an instrument for empowering poor communities and for promoting a culture of peace.
Known as the "Promote, Mobilize, Train and Employ G4" or Promot G4, the project is aimed at making G4 a continuing activity and ensure that it be sustained and institutionalized at all levels.
Conducted in the 3rd quarter of 2006, the project beneficiaries included 10 Peace and Development Communities (PDC) of the province, namely: Pagayawan, Bacolod, Mandulog, Iligan Cty, Delabayan, Kauswagan, Muntay, Kolambugan, Lumbac, Magsaysay, Imburnal, Matungao, Mentring, Maigo, Pindulunan, Munai as well as Small and Big Banisilon, both of Tangkal town.
Among the major components of Promote G4 is the training on Bio-Intensive Vegetable Production and Tilapia/Bangus Culture in Pond and the educational field visits to G4 winners in the other areas of the region, Balandra added.(Press release)
