The City of Alaminos, home of the Hundred Islands, is located in the Western part of the Province of Pangasinan. Blessed with about 20 km of shoreline, the City is one of the major bangus and fish producers & suppliers in Northern Luzon. Along with this, the city also boasts vast tracts of fertile land suitable for farming variety of low-land produce all year-round. With these available resources at hand, the City Government believes in the importance of taking up a pro-active part in setting standards in good governance to promote holistic development and highlighting the role of proper nutrition to its people working together to achieve a healthy and progressive city.

The City’s journey in lowering the prevalence of undernutrition is not an overnight work. The high number and magnitude of undernutrition among children based on OPT Plus Result 2015 is what motivated the City Government to give priority and scale up programs on nutrition. This was further demonstrated by the City’s willingness to participate and adopt new programs and endeavors that could in turn benefit its constituents. Starting with the launching of the Early Childhood Care for the first 1000 days program, and the constant commitment in delivering quality health and nutrition services to pregnant and lactating women, and children 0-23 months, the undernutrition prevalence in Alaminos was significantly lowered to below public health concern levels.

Another key element that contributed to the success of the holistic approach to nutrition program implementation is the active participation and cooperation with the other departments in the local government, line agencies, and civil society organizations in the City.

All of these would not be possible without the City’s investment in the capacity development of the community nutrition movers: the Barangay Nutrition Scholars. Together with the active support of the 39 functional Barangay Nutrition Councils and their respective Community Health Volunteers, effective service delivery for all constituents was achieved ensuring that no one is left behind. Thus, making good of its promise of “malusog at maginhawang pamumuhay para sa lahat”.

By: City Nutrition Committee of Alaminos City