By Cleizl Pardilla
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has appealed to the public to eat “lutong Pinoy” or local food in celebration of Filipino Food Month this coming April.
Through Proclamation No. 469 of 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte declared the month of April the official “Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino” or Filipino Food Month, which aims to promote and preserve Filipino culinary treasures and traditions.
While strengthening the advocacy of eating native food, Agriculture Undersecretary Evelyn Lavina said local food, particularly high value crops like vegetables and fruits, can boost the immune system. Many studies show that a healthy diet can help combat under-and over-nutrition as well as non-communicable diseases.
In addition to maintaining good health, buying local food will ultimately help our farmers raise their livelihood income, she added. “Malaking tulong ito para sa mga magsasaka at negosyante. Ang paggamit ng mga sangkap na sariling atin ay daan para lumaki ang kita ng mga magsasaka, at tulong na rin para sa sektor ng agrikultura. Makikinabang din ang mga biyahero at maliliit na negosyante.”
[This is a big help for farmers and business owners. Using our own local ingredients is the way to increase the revenue of farmers, and this will also boost the agriculture sector. Traders and small entrepreneurs will also benefit.]
The DA said the agriculture sector remains one of the most vulnerable industries, and poverty incidence among farmers and fisherfolk remains high at 31.6% and 36.9% respectively, according to 2018 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
At this time of pandemic with COVID-19’s effects on the economy driving income shortfalls, Agriculture Secretary William Dar urged the public to “take a moment to reflect on the contributions of our farmers and fishers for their food security contributions and frontliners during the pandemic.”
Kadiwa stores to showcase Filipino cuisine
In April, the DA, through its Kadiwa stores, will not only sell fresh produce, local spices, and meat products, but will also market delicious and mouth-watering lutong Pinoy.
Exhibits and cooking demonstrations of Filipino food will be conducted in various regional field offices of the agency, “para maitaguyod ang mga lokal na kasangkapan at pagkain, masuportahan ang mangingisda sa kanilang kabuhayan, at para mabigyan ng direktang market ang kanilang mga produkto [to prop up local ingredients and food, support fisherfolk in their livelihood, and provide a direct market for their products],” Lavina said.
Native dishes free webinar
In partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement, the DA will conduct free webinars about heirloom food products and practices to which farmers, culinary historians, chefs, and gastronomy experts are invited to speak.
The special recipes of each region in the country will be presented, like the Cordillera’s pride “pinuneg” (blood sausage), central Luzon’s “burung kapampangan” (a dipping sauce made of fermented rice and freshwater fish), Bicol’s famous delicacy “kaluko” (taro in sweet coconut milk), Caraga’s “palagsing” (sweet suman made of sago palm starch), and many more exciting native dishes.
Lavina said about fifty activities will be conducted for Filipino Food Month, most of them virtual, in line with stricter health protocols.
She added that along with its partner agencies, the Agriculture Department hopes to promote and preserve the unique identity of Filipino cuisine, and ensure that the DA’s advocacy of supporting local farmers will be passed on to future generations.
