Brgy. Panlautan, Siquijor’s Livelihood for Nutrition

With the barangay named after “utan” which refers to local vegetables, Barangay Panlautan of the municipality of Siquijor in Siquijor Province, is proud of their community’s food gardens and its effects on the nutrition status of the children in the barangay.

These efforts has contributed to the barangay’s feat as 1st Runner Up in the 2019 Search for Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Committee in the Region.

The Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) of the Panlautan also boasts of its Small Coconut Farmers Project, which started in 2014. The livelihood project is intended for small farmers specifically those families with malnourished children. With it, the barangay also aims to ensure sustainability of coconut trees in the area and help the community make the most of their produce by tapping external partners in conducting livelihood training activities.

The BNC being familiar with the nutritional status of the children in their area and the factors leading to it, have made efforts in addressing the problem. They are conducting family counseling session, yearly Pabasa sa Nutrisyon, backyard gardening, dietary supplementation and food for work program implemented with DSWD.

The BNC aims to reduce the number of undernourished children in the barangay and promote the importance of farming in today’s generation. The BNC have been very passionate on serving the community in providing a sustainable income to the under- privileged families and thus reduced the rate of malnutrition in the barangay.