On 10 February 2017, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Central Luzon inked partnership with the Tricycle Operators-Drivers Association (TODA) in Dingalan, Aurora. About 25 drivers and MNC membersheed NNC’s invitation to take part in its project, dubbed as “NGF-10 Kumainments Sticker on Wheels”.
The “NGF-10 Kumainments Sticker on Wheels” is part of the Local Media Campaign of NNC Central Luzon which involved the posting of 10 Kumainments stickers in public transport such as tricycles and “tri-bike” wheelers as venue to convey the 10 simple messages of the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos or its popularized version 10 Kumainments.
The launching program also included a short lecture on 10 Kumainments to help the TODA members appreciate and understand better the messages that they carry with them. As “carrier” of the 10 Kumainments sticker, the TODA members committed to bring the messages wherever they go such as “Kumain ng iba’t-ibang pagkain”, “Sa unang 6 months ni baby breastfeeding lamang; mula 6 months, bigyan din siya ng ibang angkop na pagkain”, among others. The most well-liked 10 Kumainments messages amongthe TODAmembers are: Kumainment No. 8 “Hinay-hinay sa maaalat, mamantika at matatamis and Kumainment No. 10 “Maging aktibo. Iwasan ang alak; huwag manigarilyo”, as most of them wants to help curve or stop the habit of drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking of cigarettes, among the populace and even among themselves.
One of the highlights of the activity was the hand-over of the 11 pieces of steel rules and 11 sets of BNS Kits to the Association of Barangay Captains President Mr. Victor Maneja, Barangay Captain Abner Narciso and BNS Melany Arsenas, President of Dingalan BNS Federation. The hand-over of the steel rules was done during the discussion of Kumainment No. 9 “Panatilihin ang Wastong Timbang”, where NO III Angelita M. Pasos emphasized the role of the BNSes in the conduct of OPT Plus and reweighing of 0-71 month of preschool children, as part of the Growth Monitoring Promotion activity, to ensure the improvement of nutritional status of children in the barangays.
Mayor Shierwin H. Taay of Dingalan, Aurora, in his message, encouraged the TODA members to participate in the advocacy and promotion of good nutrition of the NNC Central Luzon. Mayor Taay challenged Ms. Analyn Pajarillo, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer, to change the image of Dingalan, Aurora in terms of improving the municipality’s nutrition situation. Results of the consolidated 2016 OPT Plus of the Province of Aurora showed that the Municipality of Dingalan has the highest combined underweight and severely underweight prevalence of 0-5 years old children among the 11 municipalities of Aurora Province 2016. The prevalence of undernutrition in Dingalan is registered at 11.48 percent or 342 preschool children.
To reinforce the partnership, the TODA members recited and signed a Pledge of Commitment of Support which was witnessed by selected members of the municipal nutrition committee led by Honorable Mayor Taay and TODA President Nelson Aldawe.
The NNC-TODA partnership is also replicated in the other six (6) provinces in Central Luzon to expand public awareness on the 10 Kumainments through public transport system.
ROSE ANNE M. CUYCO, Nutrition Officer II
ANGELITA M. PASOS, Nutrition Officer III
ANA MARIA B. ROSALDO, OIC-Nutrition Program Coordinator
