When the discussion of malnutrition comes to mind, our thoughts instinctively focus on the quality and sufficiency of what our children eat. As Iloilo strives to eradicate hunger and malnutrition, a sprout of hope stretches its way towards two municipalities from its province.
A vision for a malnutrition-free Iloilo across 1,721 barangays within its provincial municipalities became a driving force for the turnover of two greenhouses at Brgy. Poblacion, Ajuy and Isla Tambaliza, Concepcion. These two greenhouses embody the community’s eagerness towards sustainable agricultural development and food security that addresses the gaps of nutrition.
As of the first month of 2026, Angat Buhay has successfully turned over two 120-square-meter greenhouse facilities in Ajuy and Concepcion, building on the earlier turnover of similar facilities in Carles and Cabatuan in 2024.
[In the photo] Diona Silvido, Head of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO)
“ Yung greenhouse ay matagal na rin naming pangarap na magkaroon kami… kasi nakita ko po na malaki ang maitutulong sa community ,” says Diona Silvido, Head of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO). Furthermore, the greenhouse project in Brgy. Poblacion, Ajuy is also being consolidated as a potential facility to harvest healthy produce and become an income-generating avenue for locals to benefit.
[This greenhouse has been our long-time dream… because I saw that it will greatly help the community]
Focusing on the one thousand-day strategy, Ajuy aims to eliminate the irreversible effects of stunting, “Stunting is multifaceted,” stated by one of the beneficiaries as this is intertwined with poverty and a poor education system.
Sailing through the horizon of Isla Tambaliza, a community hankers for the same goal in battling malnutrition, carrying optimism within every step of the implementation process. Amidst the water system issue that can affect the vegetation, there is a constant commitment to sustainable efforts on confronting these challenges, as locals heartily affirm that the greenhouse project will be successful through everyone’s collective dedication and collaborative action.
“Para may pagkain sila sa kanilang feeding, importante po ‘yan para umayos ang kanilang pangangatawan,” Frankie Taños Arlos, Brgy. Official on Water Utility, emphasized the greenhouse’s importance as this is community-owned. “Para naman sa community yung greenhouse, kung maganda ang kita sa greenhouse, pwede na makabenta para makabili kami ng seedlings para sa maintenance ng greenhouse.”
[It’s for them to have nutrition in their feeding programs which is important for their physical well-being.]
[This greenhouse is for the community. If this makes a good profit, we can sell the vegetables so that we can buy
seedlings for the maintenance of the greenhouse.]
This is a complex developmental issue that cannot be solved alone. The greenhouse turnover congregates different representatives of each sector throughout Iloilo from agriculture officers to nutrition experts all the way to mothers and their children, enhancing the local capacities of the community when tackling malnourishment of children—a pathway for nutrition and education to go hand-in-hand for a healthier and sustainable future.
This is where Angat Buhay begins to share stories from the ground—mula sa ani patungo sa hapag.
