TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Expect more multi-colored, artistically designed and message-laden Kalesas to ply the secondary thoroughfares of this city as the National Nutrition Council Region 2 zeroed in on the public transport as a folk medium for its advocacy programs and projects.
This after the City Nutrition office of Tuguegarao city conducted the kalesa painting competition on nutrition messages participated by secondary schools in the city last July 20, 2012.
This year the kalesas were painted with vegetables as it relates with the theme Pagkain ng Gulay Ugaliin, Araw araw itong ihain.
“The Council believes in the power of the kalesa to promote good nutrition and health concerns as it is one of the more popular mode of transport in the city particularly in the barangays,” Maestre said.
With the total number of participating kalesas at 8 this year, that would make 43 kalesas now plying the streets of Tuguegarao, it was learned.
With print and broadcast saturated by the NNC in its information and education campaign, City Health Officer and City Nutrition Action officer Dr. James Guzman said it is just proper to utilize the kalesa not only to provide messages but likewise promote a cultural icon among the Ibanag of the City.
At least six schools were able to paint the kalesa from the seven schools earlier invited to join. The schools were identified as the Cagayan National High School, Cagayan High Alternative Learning System, Tuguegarao City Science High School, University of Cagayan Valley, Cataggaman National High School and Linao National High School.
City Nutrition Action Officer Dr. James C. Guzman assured nutrition stakeholders that more kalesas will be painted until December of this year.
Sangguniang Panlungsod Perla Tumaliuan during her message to the participants said that as Chair of the City Health, Nutrition and Sanitation Committee, she will push for more assistance and projects for the city if only to provide development here.
“We will paint all kalesas of Tuguegarao with nutrition messages,” she said reiterating the same statement from Maestre.
