Abra State Institute of Science and Technology (ASIST) showed their full support on the proposed establishment of a Nutriskwela Community Radio Station inside the campus during the orientation at the President’s Conference Room, ASIST, Lagangilang, Abra.

Mr. Francis “Kiko” Flores, of M.Q. Mediazone Productions and Project Leader of the NNC-Nutriskwela Project, together with Ms. Rose Lulu Pagaduan, Officer In-Charge of National Nutrition Council- Region I and CAR, her technical staff and Ms. Desiree Margarita Henson, representative of Assistant Secretary of Health Maria Bernardita T. Flores, Executive Director of the National Nutrition Council, spearheaded the orientation of the project with the heads and officers of the said school. Being a 5-year media partner of the National Nutrition Council, Mr. Flores shared a lot of success stories and good practices being undertaken with the existing Nutriskwela Community Radio Station nationwide and convincing the stakeholders of the institution to adopt the project.

“Radio is a very fast means of communication. Listening to the radio is revealed as a family event. This project will provide listeners with vital information specifically on proper nutrition and other integrated school activities regarding announcements or updates on programs and projects of the institution,” he added.

In addition, he further stressed that Lagangilang is a targeted location being one of the municipalities with high malnutrition prevalence under the clustered 609 municipalities identified as convergence area on poverty reduction and the municipality has no commercial radio station reaching the area.

On the other hand, Ms. Rose Lulu Pagaduan mentioned that based on the 2011 Operation Timbang results, the nutrition situation of the municipality is alarming with prevalence rate of malnutrition of 21.86% compared to the province of 12.77% including that of the region and the country as a whole. She also added that putting up of the project will greatly contribute in addressing the malnutrition problem especially along advocacy, information dissemination and promotion of good nutrition practices.

Furthermore, Dr. Aurelio Labanen, President of ASIST together with the school administrators expressed their interest and willingness to adopt the project and to provide all the necessary counterparts of the school to be able to push through with the project.

The National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) will conduct a thorough assessment about the needed requirements for the establishment of the project. The Memorandum of Agreement between the National Nutrition Council and ASIST is therefore the next step to make the project a reality.