LAGAWE, IFUGAO – AUGUST 20, 2014 “Barya Mo Para Sa Kalusugan Ko” project of the Provincial Government of Ifugao has decreased malnutrition cases in the province.

Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Mary Jo P. Dulawan said that the project together with other local initiatives helped lowering the malnutrition rate of Ifugao to 2.37 percent in 2014.

The Office of the Provincial Nutrition Led by Ms. Corazon P. Dawong, the frontline in the implementation of the project has collected P 13, 194.00 in 2013 from various donors. The collected amount was used in their feeding program. Collection boxes and can were placed in government offices, business establishments, associations and other stakeholders.

For this year, there are still 557 identified severe and underweight children in the province who need help.

The positive implementation of the project last year inspired the provincial nutrition office to duplicate the fundraising activity this year which culminated early this month of August with a collection of more than P15, 000.00. The PNO decided to end the project due to the availability of resources to support the nutrition program courtesy of SN ABOITIZ MAGAT and Bethesda feeding program.

Dr. Dulawan greatly appreciated the support and dedication of all donors to the “Barya Mo Para Sa Kalusugan Ko” project.

The National Nutrition Council-Cordillera Administrative Region Office led by Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ms. Rita D. Papey appreciated the aggressive implementation and monitoring of various nutrition programs down to the barangay level of Ifugao.

The “Barya Mo Para Sa Kalusugan Ko” project was first implemented in 2006 wherein the malnutrition rate was 77.72 percent or a total of 1,661 underweight and severely underweight preschool children. – Joseph Manzano - The Northern Tribute