One of the component activities of the ECCD F1K Program is to provide the pregnant women and child caregivers with knowledge and skills through nutrition education classes necessary to develop a nurturing attitude towards their infants and young children. This motivated the Local Government Unit of Kumalarang to be true with their commitment in implementing the ECCD F1K Program. They envisioned a collective and inclusive community in achieving a common goal of having healthy, well-nourished and productive constituents towards a resilient and self-reliant municipality.
The newly-designated Municipal Nutrition Action Officer, Executive Assistant-I Mr. Melvin B. Hortilano, though premature in the field of Nutrition Program Management, have exerted his efforts in catching-up the overdue implementation of the ECCD F1K activities. On the other hand, the local chief executive, Hon. Mayor Eugenio G. Salva, Jr. is also very supportive in providing whatever resources needed by the MNAO. This is also supplemented by the help of the other LNC members in the barangays and in the municipality. In fact, among the three (3) ECCD F1K areas in Region-IX, specifically, in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, only the Municipality of Kumalarang have employed a full time Municipal Nutrition Program Coordinator whose primary role is to give the MNAO extra hand in implementing the nutrition activities.
Because of the concerted efforts of the stakeholders, the municipality proudly graduated its 320 pregnant women and caregivers of 0-23 months old children from the 18 component barangays last February 1, 2019. They were the participants of the Idol Ko Si Nanay Module. The event was highlighted with the giving of recognition to participants who were outstanding in their performance during the nutrition education classes. The occasion was witnessed by the MNC and BNC members which was tantamount to their causes of resolving the problem of malnutrition in their locality by empowering the mothers for a better municipality. While giving his Words of Encouragement, the Hon. Mayor Salva Jr. had said that everybody must get themselves involved and concluded his remarks by quoting the saying “It takes a village to raise a child”.
