The Department of Nutrition of the UP College of Public Health (CPH), also designated as SEAMEO TROPMED Philippines, hosted a webinar entitled “Food Security and Food Purchasing Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Malaysian and Philippine Experience” last August 28 2020. There were nearly 500 participants who joined the webinar which was also broadcasted via Facebook Live, reaching 1,300 views. 

The Malaysian experience was presented by Dr. Serene Tung of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition UCSI University, Malaysia while the Philippine experience was discussed by Dr. Cecilia S. Acuin, current President of the Philippine Association of Nutrition and Adjunct Associate Professor of the University of the Philippines Los Baños. The two speakers were later joined in the open forum by Dr. Ernani R. Bullecer, Professor and Chair of UP CPH Department of Nutrition, and Dr. Hip-Seng Yim, Director of the Office of Post Graduate Studies of UCSI University in Malaysia.

Dr. Tung described the practices of Malaysians during the Movement Control Order (MCO) while Dr. Acuin presented the Philippine experience during Community Quarantine (CQ). 

Both presentations highlighted a similar message: that the COVID-19 pandemic served as a wake-up call for countries to ultimately address pre-existing food insecurity and to prepare for future food crises. Both presenters also emphasized that governments need to invest more towards developing the agriculture sector, which continues to thrive despite the current pandemic situation. An important part of the discussion was on how building up agriculture will not only feed communities with locally sourced food, but also provide employment opportunities to many. An interesting experience shared by both countries was about the ingenuity of people to trade or to “barter” commodities which usually consisted of food items. 

The webinar ended with a collective sense of optimism for the future of food accessibility, availability, and utilization.

Prof. Ana Kriselda B. Rivera | Published in Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 16