Asipulo, a fifth-class municipality in the province of Ifugao, became separated from Kiangan in July 1992 by virtue of Republic Act 7173.  Before this, Asipulo was considered a far-flung area, thus, it was neglected, and services did not reach the place mainly because it was only accessible by a mountain trail. Fortunately, the municipality adopted the organizational structure for nutrition implemented by Kiangan and continued the implementation of national initiatives such as weighing children (i.e. Operation Timbang) and counseling pregnant women and mothers. However, activities to build the capacities of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) in weighing, reporting, and documentation were limited due to the unavailability of some equipment. 

Sometime later, the Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) was organized, but it stayed largely non-functional. Member agencies (e.g. agriculture, health, social welfare) were focused on their sectors. No one wanted to assume the post of Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) because the municipal staff were still learning their sectoral programs and saw nutrition as an additional task. Barangay chairs and officials thought that their roles were limited to maintaining peace and order only while the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) only complied with reportorial requirements on the children they weighed and visited some mothers but more active involvement had to wait for the turn of the century.

From 1995-2000, infrastructure development in the municipality was prioritized because it was  believed that improved access to the municipality and its barangays is necessary for better program implementation and delivery of services to communities. The low political priority given to nutrition, inadequate human resources, uncommitted nutrition committee members, cases of insurgency, and unconcerned community members pulled down nutrition in Asipulo and placed the municipality consistently at the bottom in the provincial evaluation in the years 1996-2000.

It was only in 2002 that the Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) was convened to work on the malnutrition causal model under the second term of Mayor Jose "Jordan" T. Gullitiw. It was the time when locally initiated programs were identified and refocused to anchor on the causal analysis. Members started integrating nutrition into their respective programs by promoting proper nutrition through various activities such as field visits to the community. Due to the expanded membership, a larger pool of human resources geared towards improving nutrition and program coverage across the municipality was made available.

Aside from the mayor, the MNC, and the "Sangguniang Bayan", another key nutrition actor is the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) who updates records, monitors, and coordinates to further strengthen capacities for nutrition program management.

In 2002, Asipulo began to conceptualize and implement the following nutrition-focused programs:

• "CHIOBUHA" or "Adopt a Malnourished Child Program" in which members of the Keteguan Council monthly contributes PhP 100.00 for the procurement of essential nutrition supplements such as Vitamin A for the malnourished children in the municipality;
• Integration of nutrition initiatives into the Municipal Poverty Reduction Action Plan as one of the priority programs;
• Construction of its Nutrition Center where knowledge and skills training and meetings on health and nutrition by the MNC, BNSs, and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) are being conducted;
• "Incentive Program" which recognizes good performing BNSs and provides remuneration;
• "Annual Search for the Best Performing Barangay," an award system for barangays that successfully addressed malnutrition among children; and the
• "Annual Search for the Best Performing ‘Oban/Ayod’ Council," patterned after the Regional Nutrition Council's outstanding barangay committee.

It is difficult to determine the financial resources brought by the transfer of office that resulted in the loss of relevant documents. Nevertheless, Asipulo was able to improve the nutritional status of children through external resources. It is difficult to determine the financial resources brought by the transfer of office that resulted in the loss of relevant documents. Nevertheless, Asipulo was able to improve the nutritional status of children through external resources. First, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s "Kapit-bisig Labas sa Kahirapan Program" (KALAHI-CIDSS) aims to alleviate poverty and achieve good governance outcomes by helping communities. Second,  the Department of Health's Central Cordillera Agricultural Program (CECAP) provided an access to water, livelihood, roads, and reforestation projects. Other supporting include the United Nations Population Fund, JICA, HMPC, KMDC, and Shontong Foundation among others.

Asipulo’s leaders optimized its traditional practices for nutritional benefits. Much of these actions revolved around pursuing development through empowering people. Through orientation, education, and engagement in community projects, the residents finally embraced development as their personal and shared thrust. They have been actively involved in development projects, both in infrastructure and social development.

Incumbent Mayor Armando P. Domilod believes that it is important for his people to understand that social development and improved nutrition are core components of progress. He believes that when people are actively involved and responsible, programs are better crafted to suit their needs. In support of this, the municipality institutionalized a program called "Pan-aamungan (Convergence) Program" where social development is being achieved alongside fostering people’s awareness of their important role in alleviating poverty and improving health services in their barangays.

At the barangay level, Asipulo has an umbrella organization called the Oban/Ayod Committee. Oban refers to the sling that women customarily use to carry their babies while ayod refers to the rattan hammock traditionally used to transport a sick or old person through the mountain trail. Its municipality-wide counterpart, the Oban/Ayod Committee, recognizes that the key people involved in barangay-level social development committees are the BNC, Barangay Council for the Protection of Children, and Barangay Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children.

Asipulo has received many recognitions for its nutrition achievements at the provincial and regional levels. In 2005, the municipality received its first Green Banner Award from the National Nutrition Council - Cordillera Administrative Region (NNC-CAR), Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) in 2007, and CROWN Maintenance Award from NNC in 2008. In addition, the LGU received Green Banner Award in 2010 and 2011. These symbolize that the nutrition programs implemented in the municipality are successful. Even though their last nutrition award was in 2011, it does not hinder them from continuing their established programs such as the search for the Best Barangay Nutrition Scholar and Best “Oban/Ayod” Committee. 

Having been a real underdog and wanting to prove oneself has been the constant concern of Asipulo. "Pantutubtuban” or a strong tradition of community members helping each other served as a key to this. A solid vision of leaders shared by many in this town is the core of the municipality's social development.

Yrgyl Sucdad / Bella Basalong