“Huli man pero dahil magaling ay nagtagumpay pa rin”. This quotation clearly depicts the launching of Nutrition Month in Central Luzon held on 21 July 2014 during the Unified Flag Raising Ceremony. The event jointly hosted by the National Nutrition Council Regional Office in Central Luzon, Department of Health – Regional Health Office 3, and Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 3 was recorded as among the most attended for the year since it brought in 40 agencies and close to 845 government personnel.
An audio-video invocation inspired by people’s gratitude on survival in past calamities and petitions for building resiliency and increasing strength to face any future emergency or disaster started the event. This was followed by the series of recitation of pledges of commitments: Panunumpa sa Watawat, Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno, Panatang Makapalay, and Nutrition Pledge. The Panatang Makapalay emphasized the importance of conserving rice grain or kernel, a very simple act to prevent hunger and ensure food security among the population but can largely contribute in solving country’s malnutrition problem.
On the other hand, the Nutrition Pledge led by NPC Flor solicited commitment to support, promote, advocate and practice the 10 Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF). This was supported by Regional Director and Chair of the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) for Central Luzon, Dr. Leonita P. Gorgolon in her message while RNC Vice-Chair and Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture, Dir. Andrew Villacorta zeroed in on NGF’s message Number 10 to remind the majority of the attendees on the practical ways on how to avoid suffering from or reduce health risks brought about by Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Director Villacorta emphasized also the call for a higher level of preparedness to calamities as the Nutrition Month Theme suggests and that as part of his message.
NPC Flor integrated a discussion on the 10 Key Messages to promote actions and initiatives towards
“Kalamidad Paghandaan: Gutom at Malnutrisyon Agapan”.
NNC for Central Luzon, as part of its office advocacy also hosted the trivia and presented a local version of the audio-visual short script entitled 1,000 days.
The affair ended with a very nutritious sit-down breakfast compliments of NNC for Central Luzon to the members of the Central Luzon Association of Regional Directors’ Offices (CLARO) while DA, DOH and NNC co-shared packed of snacks consisting of meat sandwiches, boiled eggs, boiled corn, sweet potatoes and bananas was distributed to the rest of the attendees.
