This study was conducted to assess the role of Butuanon River Watershed Management Board (BRWMB) in rehabilitating the Butuanon River in Cebu, Philippines. Data was gathered through key informant interviews with officials of the Board and a self-administered questionnaire for the members of the Board and was analyzed through descriptive and thematic analyses.Results showed that since the creation of the Butuanon River Watershed Water Quality Management Area (BRW WQMA) in 2014, the river’s biological oxygen demand (BOD) level has decreased. While the level has yet to meet the water quality guidelines of DENR’s Class D rivers, the Board’s initiatives like clean-up activities, information, education, and communication (IEC), and the relocation of informal settlers residing at riverbanks contributed to the improvement of the river’s water quality. The activities conducted by the Board strengthened the linkages with other stakeholders. The good working relationship among the stakeholders facilitated the convergence of their resources, making their efforts to rehabilitate the Butuanon River more coordinated and sustainable. Furthermore, Mandaue LGU, the chair of BRWMB, integrated its efforts in its Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and the 10-year Action Plan of the BRW WQMA in its Butuanon River Rehabilitation Plan.Results revealed that the existence of BRWMB played a vital role in the Butuanon River’s rehabilitation, and such efforts are hoped to be sustained with the participation of the various stakeholders and formulation of policies to support all efforts of the Board.

With COVID-19 disrupting basic health services, the Family MUAC approach was recognized as a “reduced physical contact” method for detecting malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months old. The mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is an anthropometric measure taken at the midpoint of the upper arm, between the tip of the shoulder (olecranon process) and the tip of the elbow (acromion). While this approach is already being implemented in 26 countries worldwide, there is a research gap in the implementing strategies of the Family MUAC approach in the Philippines. As of 2021, there were only a few documented barangay-level activities involving this approach; a pilot implementation in Samar, Northern Samar, and Zamboanga Del Norte, and a virtual training in Cagayan Province. This quantitative study was conducted to correlate factors with the competency of the Barangay Nutrition Scholars in the implementation of the Family MUAC approach. The study surveyed all 18 Barangay Nutrition Scholars in Cabuyao, Laguna using a pretested structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, supportive systems, resources, and level of competency of the respondents. On the other hand, Spearman and Cramer’s V coefficients were calculated to identify factors correlated with the competency of the respondents. With the majority of the respondents having a moderate level of competency (72.2\%), results showed that competency was negatively correlated with age and positively correlated with household size, monthly family income, last MUAC training, supervisory visits, refresher training, and availability of selected supplies. In conclusion, the variables above were factors correlated with competency, and knowledge, experience, and motivation were sufficient measures of the Barangay Nutrition Scholars’ level of competency. The study recommends reinforcing strategies on the identified positively-influencing factors related to family support, training, supervision, and supplies to improve the competency of the Barangay Nutrition Scholars in the implementation of the Family MUAC approach.

Food neophobia (FN) is the reluctance to eat novel foods. It peaks around the toddler and preschool years, a sensitive time for developing dietary habits. If this eating behavior persists, children are susceptible to acquiring lifelong unhealthy dietary habits, ultimately affecting their development. Hence, this cross-sectional study involved 88 parents or caregivers of children ages 2 to 5 to describe FN relative to nutritional status (NS) and diet quality (DQ) and identify factors affecting its development. Data were collected using a computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) online survey. Weight-for-height and height-for-age measurements were used to assess NS. While dietary diversity score (DDS) and Menu Eval Plus for DQ. The Child Food Neophobia Scale was adopted to measure FN. No significant associations were noted regarding NS and DQ. However, food-neophobic children had fewer intakes of legumes (p-value=0.041) and non-vitamin A-rich vegetables (p-value=0.048) and excessive intakes of phosphorus (p-value=0.002), vitamin A (p-value=0.027), and riboflavin (p-value=0.037). Snacks and discretionary foods are also frequently consumed as they are readily available and accessible. This behavior may probably be due to the innate preference of children for sweet and salty over bitter and sour flavors. Results warrant further research to develop interventions to address FN in children.

Research in human ecology and sustainability holds significant importance in addressing global challenges related to the environment, society, and the well-being of the current and future generations. There is an urgent need for a platform to inform new knowledge, practices, policies, and behaviors that contribute toward a more sustainable, resilient, and harmonious coexistence between humans and their environment. The Journal of Human Ecology and Sustainability (JHES) aims to publish interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research on all aspects of human-environment interactions, community development, and other fields of social science that link with the people, organizations, and government to achieve human-ecological security. This note, which summarizes the contributions in the first volume of the journal, provides a brief background of the transformation of the Journal of Human Ecology to JHES, the official academic publication of the College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines Los Baños.

The scaffolds of the “I See, I Think, and I Feel” capability-building project was built first by the results of a qualitative inquiry of 10 gay preschool teachers whose experiences yielded resiliency with the themes as persona duality, vicarious experiences as an anxiety trigger, innate creativity, adaptability, the need to feel respected, the difficult choice of living alone, and dealing with children’s gender typing; and second by the extension project cycle of Central Mindanao University. Further, the Sustainable Development Goal on Reduction of Inequalities towards the empowerment and promotion of the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, regardless of age, sex, or other status, thereby paving for laws that are non-discriminatory and sustainable development-related policies has been the main ingredient throughout the project development leading to the conceptualization of the main objective that is to reach out to gay preschool teachers in Bukidnon who have been experiencing the struggles, and thereby pave positive psychology for them. Hence, the underscored capability-building method is the process approach covering five main topics: intensifying the utilization of arts in gay preschool teachers’ pedagogy, effective handling of children’s curiosity about gays, positive use of resiliency in dealing with the challenges of being gay preschool teachers, self-love, and the importance of positive mental health, which will undergo 5-year monitoring and evaluation to ensure the sustainability and magnify the impact.

Undernutrition among school-age children remains to be highly prevalent in developing countries. The adverse impact of undernourishment among school-age children could significantly affect their cognitive development, school performance, and future productivity. Despite the government's efforts in poverty and hunger reduction, the Philippines continuously sustains a high prevalence of undernutrition among school-age children. This study aims to determine the influences of different factors on the weight, height, and body mass index of school-age children in farming households. This study utilized data from the 2015 Updating of the Nutritional Status of Filipino Children and Other Population Groups of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute. This study includes 1689 school-age children from farming households who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings of this study suggested that household wealth index, household size, and food security status affected the weight of school-age children in farming households. It was also observed that household wealth index, size, food security status, and dietary diversity status significantly affect the height of school-age children in farming households. Lastly, the wealth index, the age of children, and the number of 0-10 years old children in farming households significantly affect their body mass index. The findings of this study provide empirical evidence that the most important underlying causes of undernutrition among school-age children belonging to farming households could guide policymakers and program planners to craft interventions that target this vulnerable group.