As we are moving forward to eradicating this ever-pressing concern of malnutrition among Filipinos and with the advent of COVID-19 pandemic that aggravated the vulnerability of the undernourished children, the National Nutrition Council conceived the Tutok Kainan (TK), a dietary supplementation program, to help alleviate and improve the nutritional status of our future generation most especially in the first 1000 days of life being the golden window of opportunity. This is also to help reach the full potential of every individual. With this and as a follow through to the conducted ceremonial signing for the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, NNC9 sealed the partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform Region IX (DAR9) and Community-based Organizations (CBOs) during the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and Marketing Agreement last May 11, 2022 at Roderics Resort, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay (ZS).
The activity was spearheaded by NNC9 RNPC Nimfa D. Ekong together with NO II Joanna Marie Baltazar and ZS PNFP Karla Calapardo. The event was joined by CARPO Engr. Florinda S. Depamaylo, SARPO Ms. Luzuela Culanculan, PCAO Mr. Reynaldo Mantos as representatives from the Department of Agrarian Reform IX (DAR9), and from the CBOs; IMAVEMCO Manager Ms. Caren Joy P. Duran, JR Garcia MPC Mr. Eric Delone Garcia Bulnes and from NAB Construction and Enterprise Ms. Rowena L. Puna. The occasion was witnessed by Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Ms. Marelene P. Garcia together with the Municipal Nutrition Action Officers Ms. Elena Subrado of Olutanga, Ms. Mary Lissa Yorong of Diplahan, Ms. Marebel Tingson of RT Lim, Ms. Leila Balbin of Mabuhay, Ms. Gloria Delos Reyes of Tungawan together with NDDP Angelyn Intal, and Dr. Myrna Salomes of Imelda together with her Municipal Nutrition Program Coordinator Ms. Jane Teñaflor.
During the event, RNPC Ekong expressed her hopes for the best outcome of this program and asked for good coordination-relationship between all the involved parties. She also grabbed the opportunity to thank everyone for supporting the program during the initial phase like the submission of requisites (e.g. masterlists, list of focal persons, MOUs, etc). After which, ZS PNFP Calapardo discussed briefly the overview of the Tutok Kainan for children and she also presented the documents required to be declared eligible from community based service providers that will participate in Negotiated Procurement Community Participation activity.
Likewise, NO II Baltazar discussed the content of the Marketing Agreement before the actual signing between the NNC9 and CBOs (Agrarian Reform Beneficiary, cooperative, and civil society organization). Right after the signing, the CBOs gave their message of commitment in which they ensured that they will take the necessary precautions to deliver quality goods to our LGUs and that they were grateful to be part of something big like the TK DSP.
The ceremony was closed with a meaningful message from ZS PNAO Ms. Garcia where she reminds everyone to do their part as this program needs a collective effort from the different agencies and organizations to achieve the desired outcome which is to improve the nutritional status of every Filipino.
NO II Joanna Marie E. Baltazar, RND
