TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN----- Various nutrition workers, partners from academe, business sectors, members of civil society organizations and other stakeholders unite for the launch of the Scale Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement during the recently conducted regional orientation last 14 October 2021 via Zoom and Facebook live.
The SUN Movement is founded on the principle that all people have a right to good food and good nutrition. It brings together governments, civil society, the United Nations, donors, businesses, and academe into a collective effort to improve nutrition.
The event kicked off with the opening remarks of Dr. Faith Alberto, Assistant Regional Director- DOH Cagayan Valley Center for Health and Development, wherein she emphasized the importance of health and nutrition specially during the pandemic.
“The first 1000 days concept is very important, from the womb until the child’s second birthday, a golden window of opportunity to ensure provision nutrition and health programs,” Dr. Alberto emphasized.
Atty. Karlo Alexie B. Nograles, Cabinet Secretary and SUN adviser for the Philippines, gave inspirational message to the participants of the SUN Movement Regional Orientation.
“In order to make it happen (lower prevalence of stunting), rationalize and harmonized strategies are needed to address the multifaceted and multidimensional problem of hunger and other related problems,” said CabSec Nograles.
Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang, Assistant Secretary and Executive Director, National Nutrition Council and Representative to the Global SUN Movement inspired members of the virtual orientation by ensuring that the NNC is continuously promotes policies and related programs in addressing malnutrition.
“Thus, we need to join forces to protect the future generation. Our collective commitment and accountability to reduce malnutrition will make a difference. I look forward to the networks that will be established in Cagayan Valley to support the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) beyond 2022 and contribute to the achievement of our national and global commitments,” as encouraged by A/Sec. Dayanghirang.
Mr. Edzell M. Arcinue, Nutrition Officer III-NNC R02, discussed about the Regional Nutrition Situation while Ms. Maria Gisela M. Lonzaga, Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator-NNC R02, shared the Rationale and Roles of SUN networks.
Ms. April Jasmine May C. Ducusin, OIC-Nutrition Officer III-NPPD, shared to the participants the introduction to SUN 3.0 initiative.
Message of commitment were delivered by different personalities such as Ms. Luz Malillin, Enhanced NutriBun Producer and DOST-FNRI Technology Adapter for the business sector, while the Civil Society Organizations was represented by Judge Raquel C. Reyes-Aglaua, President Zonta Club of Central Tuguegarao and the academe sector by Professor Shelly T. Pascual of Cagayan State University.
Director Jonathan Paul Leusen of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) delivered the closing remarks to end the virtual orientation where he called on the LGUs to prioritized nutrition in their Devolution Transition Plans.
Hundreds of participants joined via Zoom and FB live. ####John Nestor L. Ballad
