Malabon City - Improving the nutrition situation of the city has always been a priority of the city government of Malabon under the leadership of Mayor Antolin Oreta III. Feeding programs are conducted every year since 2016 to improve food intake of underweight children identified through Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus.

Last March 19, 2018, the city government launched the “Karinderia para sa Kalusugan ni Chikiting (KKC)” project. It is a first project of its kind implemented in Malabon City. The city government partnered with existing carinderia owners in providing nutritious hot meals to undernourished children aged 6-59 months for 120 days. Cooks of partner carinderias followed the prescribed cycle menu of the city nutritionists to achieve the required caloric content of the meals served to the beneficiaries.

Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) conducted series of Pabasa sa Nutrisyon and Mothers’ Classes to increase knowledge of caregivers of KKC beneficiaries on proper child care and basic nutrition. Parents of beneficiaries were also encouraged to enroll in the “Angking Galing” livelihood project of Ricky Reyes for additional source of income. The BNSs monitored the feeding sessions once a week or as often as needed.
The project is like hitting two birds with one stone because it is both a dietary supplementation and livelihood project. Carinderia owners earn while helping undernourished children improve their nutritional status.

A total of 37 carinderia owners are affiliated with the project and a total of 514 undernourished children and 2 nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women were enrolled in the said dietary supplementation program in the 21 barangays of Malabon City.

It was observed that majority of the children have 100% attendance in the program because meals served were palatable and appetizing. Their nutritional status also improved. In addition, carinderia owners were able to establish a cooperative group which is now accredited in Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

Mayor Oreta and FL/CNAO Chef Melissa Sison-Oreta were hands-on in monitoring the project to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness. The city government also provided dry ration of canned goods, rice and other nutritious dry goods to improve household food security of KKC beneficiaries. Carinderia owners also received incentives such as canned goods and sack of rice to motivate them to continue providing meals to the KKC beneficiaries.

The first batch of the KKC 120-day feeding program ended on July 19, 2018 and the 2nd batch will start this September 2018.


Written by: Mr. Fidel Baltazar P. Dela Cruz, Nutritionist-Dietitian II, Malabon City

Mr. Dela Cruz is a member of the Regional Nutrition Writers' Guild and C/DNPC of Metro Manila Association, Inc.