Davao Food Revolution: Affordable yet healthy foods

Countering the myths that healthy foods should always be expensive and affordable only to the rich, an initiative targeting the school children is now on the move—Davao Food Revolution.

Launched in Brgy. Matina Crossing, Davao City, March 22, the Davao Food Revolution (DFR) is a program that revolutionizes sourcing and preparation of food through healthy and organic means. This campaign wants to improve the condition of school children because chronic malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and frequent illnesses lead to poor school performance and early school dropout.

Headed by the Mindanao Commission on Women (MCW), the group partnered with Local Government Units and DepEd in organizing women in the barangays to grow organic vegetables and fruits in the backyards and community gardens and they were taught about cooking healthy kid-friendly recipes for snacks and meals.

Later, the project will also teach them to start their own healthy food cart business where they will be linked to schools under DepEd near their barangays so they can supply healthy food in canteens.

MCW Program Officer Patricia Ruivivar said women take charge of the budget and preparation of meals for the family that’s why they should take charge of the Food Revolution.

“Mindanao is a food basket and our City Mayor Rody Duterte said there’s no excuse that someone gets hungry here in the city,” she said during the launching of Davao Food Revolution.

MCW Chair Emerita Irene Santiago said the mothers’ assets are their children and they should take care of their health by providing healthy and nutritious foods every meal.

“Our vision is to spread the program to different mothers,” Santiago said.

During the launching, mothers were served with pink juice made of camote tops, juice made of ginger, malunggay polvoron, among others.

The Father of Philippine Urban Container Gardening Perfecto Rom gave some tips on how to start one’s own container garden.

The mothers who participated in the launching signified their interest to start their own backyard vegetable garden and be part of Davao Food Revolution.

The Davao Food Revolution program is supported by the Canadian Embassy.