Butuan City- Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members of the different municipalities in Surigao del Sur shared same the vision to push for nutrition as one of their priorities in the Council, term 2022-2025.

The commitment sparked after which Nutrition Program Management imparted to the newly elected officials and their nutrition action officers and coordinators on 4 August 2022 at Shacene Pension House and Restaurant, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur (SDS).

Bayabas SB Member Madelyn Lozada expressed gratitude for including the SB handling the Committee on Health and Nutrition. The orientation opened our hearts to identifying strategies and measures to reduce the alarming malnutrition situation, she added.

Dr. Nino Archie S. Labordo, Officer-in-Charge of the National Nutrition Council Caraga shared the topic of Why Invest in Nutrition. Dr. Labordo discussed one by one the seven (7) compelling reasons on why invest on nutrition.

The seven compelling reasons for investing in nutrition: (1) alarming nutrition problem; (2) embarrassment for a middle income country; (3) cost of malnutrition to the economy; (4) negative impact of malnutrition on development; (5) returns to investment in nutrition very high; (6) Intervention to address malnutrition exists; and (7) nutrition is a child right and an integral part of the UN SDGs and PDP. Supportive policies for local government units (LGUs) to invest in nutrition exist.

Participants in the orientation, shared commitment on how the LGU can contribute in the reduction of malnutrition.

SB Member John Flor Ramas of the Municipality of Tagbina relayed that because of the orientation, an Executive Order for the organization of the Municipal Nutrition Committee is necessary.

In attendance are the following LGUs: Bayabas, Barobo, Cantilan, Marihatag, Lianga, Lanuza, Carrascal, Lanuza, Tago, San Miguel, San Agustin, Tagbina, Cortes, Carmen, Madrid, Cagwait and Tandag City.

Participants, particularly the SB members, shared and appreciated the initiative organized by NNC Caraga as they have oriented to basic and important concepts on malnutrition and its program implementation.#NASLabordo