City of San Fernando, La Union—The Regional Development Council of Region 1 (RDC-1) through RDC-1 Resolution No. 102 s. 2019 pushed for the institutionalization of the Healthy Lifestyle Program among the employees and officials of the Regional Line Agencies and Local Government Units in the region as one of its actions to address the alarming and increasing incidence of overweight and obesity among Filipino adults.
This is among the Regional Nutrition Committee’s initiatives as a strong support to the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Governing Board Resolution No. 5 s. 2018 which adopted the NNC Policy Statement on Nutrition Program for Government Workers.
Adult workers categorized as officials, professionals and clerks were reported to have the poorest nutrition and health status based on 8th National Nutrition Survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST). 31.1% of Filipino adults are overweight or obese.
Mr. Kendall Gatan, Officer in-charge of the National Nutrition Council- Region I (NNC-ROI) said that there is a need to intensify efforts of concerned agencies and LGUs to address the problem not only undernutrition among children but also the increasing incidence of overweight and obesity among adults especially the state workers.
“We, at the RNC, are optimistic that with the full compliance to the resolution where agencies and LGUs working together for same noble purpose, we will attain our goal of improved nutrition in the region’” he added.
The RDC resolution is a great step and will serve as an eye opener to all agencies and LGUs concerned to take comprehensive actions as overweight and obesity are risk factors of having non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cancer and others.
Concerned offices are then enjoined to formulate policies and plans to promote good nutrition in the workplaces to include conduct of regular physical activities and exercise, provision of healthier food environment and compliance to Pinggang Pinoy, make safe drinking water available, establish and sustain office garden, conduct of nutrition promotion activities, regular nutrition assessment and the likes.
The Regional Nutrition Committee through its secretariat- NNC- Regional Office I will closely monitor the progress and compliance of the regional line agencies and LGUs. /CPF
