Provincial Nutrition Focal Point (PNFP) Diana Jean Umali of the National Nutrition Council – NCR had a virtual meeting with the nutrition workers involved in the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TK-DSP) Phase 1 in the four (4) program areas in NCR namely, the cities of Caloocan, Paranaque, Navotas, and Municipality of Pateros, and Ms. Fredeliza B. Miranda of the Sto. Tomas San Luis Farmer’s Association Inc. on 31 January 2022. The meeting was held to discuss the concerns on the delivery of fresh food commodities for the daily supplementation of hot meals to the beneficiaries of TK-DSP Phase 1.  The TK DSP is a program of the National Nutrition Council to mitigate hunger and malnutrition, particularly stunting among children less than two (2) years old.

The second month of TK-DSP Phase 1 includes the daily provision of hot meals to 616 nutritionally at-risk pregnant women in NCR. Each hot meal consists of one (1) viand, iron-fortified rice (IFR), and banana to serve as additional meals for the beneficiaries to meet the increased nutrient demand during pregnancy. The recipes in the cycle menu for the hot meals were developed by the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) and follow the Pinggang Pinoy for pregnant and lactating women.

All fresh commodities such as meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits and other ingredients used in the preparation of hot meals for the beneficiaries of TK-DSP Phase 1 in NCR are being supplied by the Sto. Tomas San Luis Farmers Association, Inc., an Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organization (ARBO) from Pampanga.

Discussed during the virtual meeting were the concerns and challenges encountered during the delivery of food commodities as well as comments and suggestions on how further improve the strategy of delivering the commodities in all the four (4) cities and municipality covered by the program. The schedule and route of delivery were also discussed and agreed upon by the attendees to maintain the freshness of food commodities delivered.

The 30-day provision of hot meals of TK-DSP Phase 1 started on January 15 and will last until February 13, 2022 in all the program areas except in Paranaque City that will run until March 26, 2022, due to a delay in the start of hot meals supplementation because of the surge of COVID-19 cases.  

Written by: PFNP Diana Jean A. Umali and RNPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo