21 April 2022-- The National Nutrition Council Region I in partnership with the Local Government of San Carlos City and the Provincial Health Office of Pangasinan successfully spearheaded the blended Ceremonial Launching of the Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program - Phase 2 for Pangasinan Province held at Kevin's Resort and Restaurant in San Carlos City attended by more than 160 guests and beneficiaries and more than 150 online participants.
Assistant Secretary Azucena M. Dayanghirang, Executive Director of NNC virtually graced the launching activity and emphasized in her inspirational message the objectives of the project as the NNC’s response to the nutritional needs of the Filipinos in this time of COVID-19 Pandemic which also operationalizes RA 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon gn Magnanay Act.
"Through the Tutok Kainan supplementation program in Pangasinan, 3230 children beneficiaries will receive nutritious food to help fill caloric gaps for 180 days. This is an additional food to the usual means that beneficiaries consume to help ensure that they receive adequate amounts of calories and energy, as well as vitamins and minerals that are needed for optimum nutrition," she added.
Mr. Jhuliano Nazareno Resuello, Secretary to the Mayor welcomed all the participants of the launching and expressed the full support and involvement of the City of San Carlos, Pangasinan in ensuring the smooth implementation of the Tutok Kainan Project.
“With our City Nutrition Action Officer, Dr. Luisa Cayabyab, we commit that this project be sustained by the City Government of San Carlos as we work together to address our problems on malnutrition,” he added.
Mr. Kendall Gatan, Officer-In-Charge of NNC- Regional Office I presented the flow of implementation of the project which will cover 41 LGUs, 743 barangays and 3230 young children which will last for 6 months or 180 days.
He again requested for the usual support of the partner LGUs to ensure that the tutok kainan food commodities will reach every beneficiaries from day 1 to day 180.
Dr. Luisa Cayabyab and City BNS President, Marife Santos expressed their gratitude and their commitment for a well-organized project implementation in their LGU.
The other TK target LGUs in the Province of Pangasinan, on the other hand, joined the launching virtually and had their simultaneous launching in their respective areas.
The launching also marked the commencement of the implementation of the said project in all the 41 LGUs in the province and the NNC-ROI and the Provincial Nutrition Office will be monitoring its progress.
Dr. Cielo Almoite, Provincial Health Officer I of Pangasinan delivered the closing message on behalf of Dr. Ana Maria Teresa De Guzman, PHO II and Provincial Nutrition Action Officer and reiterated the active involvement of the Provincial Government in ensuring the success of the project and ensured their sustained and scaled-up action in improving their children's health and nutrition.
The Tutok Kainan Project aims to prevent stunting in children ages 0 to 23 months by increasing the quality and quantity of food and nutrient intakes and utilization of related ECCD F1KD services among nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and children aged 6 to 23 months in the target Tutok Kainan program areas.
This program is being implemented throughout the Philippines, with a specific number of beneficiaries in each region and provinces. /CSC
