The Municipality of Pateros kicked off their implementation of the National Nutrition Council’s Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program for pregnant women on March 08, 2021.  The kick-off event coincided with the NNC’s celebration of the International and National Women’s Day.

The Tutok Kainan is part of the National Dietary Supplementation Program of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2017-2022 which aims to prevent stunting by giving nutritious food commodities to nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and children 6-23 months old. The NNC leads the implementation of the program in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Zero Hunger chaired by Cabinet Secretary Karlo B. Nograles.

The kick-off of the Tutok Kainan for Pregnant Women was led by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles together with NNC Executive Director Azucena M. Dayanghirang, Pateros Municipal Mayor Miguel F. Ponce III, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) Mrs. Jenine Ponce and NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo. Also present were members of the municipal nutrition committee, barangay nutrition scholars, and selected pregnant women who are program beneficiaries. 

In her message, Dr. Dayanghirang emphasized the importance of the Tutok Kainan to prevent stunting by ensuring good nutrition during the child’s first 1000 days which starts during the mother’s pregnancy until the child’s second birthday. She encouraged everyone to join the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

Mayor Ponce was very thankful to NNC for including Pateros as one of the target areas of the Tutok Kainan and for prioritizing the health and nutrition of pregnant women especially in this time of pandemic. Likewise, MNAO Jenine Ponce expressed her commitment of support to the program.

"Ang mga batang isisilang ay lalaki at sila po ang magiging susunod na leader ng lipunan. Kaya kung gusto po natin iayos ang ating bayan, ngayon palang ay atin ng alagaan ang mga batang isisilang at magsisilaki upang masiguro natin na magiging maganda ang kinabukasan ng ating bayan, ng ating bansa," said Mayor Ponce.

A highlight of the event was the distribution of the Enhanced Nutribun to the pregnant women led by CabSec Nograles together with Dr. Dayanghirang, Mayor Ponce, MNAO Ponce and RNPC Federizo. The pregnant women will receive daily ration of the nutribun for the first month, hotmeal on the second month, and nutribun and lipid-based nutrient supplement small quantity (LNSSQ) on the third month.

A documentary video entitled, “Kanutrisyon Mo, Jessica Lanuzo” was shown as part of the program which shows the maternal health and nutrition services given by the Municipality of Pateros to pregnant women as part of the First 1000 Days program. Mrs. Lanuzo is one of the beneficiaries of the Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program.  NNC’s First 1000 Days jingle was also launched during the program.

CabSec Nograles in his message, emphasized the need to implement the Tutok Kainan to address hunger and malnutrition in the country which was aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He enjoined LGUs, non-government and civic organizations, and other stakeholders to work together to provide good nutrition to pregnant women and children under two years old who are most vulnerable to malnutrition.

"Kung gusto natin maging malusog at matalino ang mga bata, bigyan natin sila ng sapat na pagkain at nutrisyon umpisa palang habang sila ay nasa sinapupunan ng kanilang mga ina," CabSec Nograles said. "Ang pagbibigay ng tamang pagkain at sapat na nutrisyon sa mga buntis ang sikreto para masiguro na maganda ang kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan", he added.

Aside from Pateros, the cities of Caloocan, Navotas and Parañaque will also implement the Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program this March 2021. A total of 616 nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women in Metro Manila will benefit from this 3-month dietary supplementation program.

Let us heed the call of NNC Executive Director Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang – “Sama-sama tayo sa pagtugon sa malnutrisyon. Simulan natin ito sa pagbibigay ng masustansya at sapat na pagkain para sa mga buntis.  Ang mga buntis ang tunay na pag-asa ng ating bayan!“


Written by NOI Joyce Ann P. Pardo, NOII Theresa A. Rivas, and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo