12 May 2022--The National Nutrition Council IX (NNC9) engaged a Ceremonial Signing of Marketing Agreement with BACLAY Multi-Purpose Cooperative for the Tutok Kainan DSP Phase 3 and 4 in the Province of Zamboanga del Sur, and in the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay for the Municipalities of Diplahan and Imelda. This ensures that the beneficiaries of the said areas will be provided with fresh ingredients for the wet feeding. The activity was spearheaded by NNC9 RNPC Nimfa D. Ekong with PNFP ZDS Marie-Claire Gaas and it was joined by the Manager of BACLAY Multi-purpose Cooperative, Mr. Richard S. Hidalgo.
Stunting among children under the age of five remains a major nutrition issue that affects millions of children. Filipinos are still the second-to-shortest people in the ASEAN region. Therefore, one of PPAN's strategic thrusts is a focus on the First 1000 Days, the period from conception to the child's second birthday, which is regarded as the "Golden Window of Opportunity" for the child to reach his or her full potential in various aspects of development. DSP "Tutok Kainan" is our government's newly conceived nutrition-specific project.
Dietary supplementation aims to prevent stunting while also providing a platform for educating mothers on desirable complementary feeding practices and promoting the local food supply value chain between the national government's "Tutok Kainan" program and the community-based organizations (CBOs) such as the local agrarian reform beneficiary organizations, sustainable livelihood program associations, and farmer-fisherfolk cooperatives. This program aims to prevent stunting in children ages 0-23 months by improving the quality and quantity of food and nutrient intakes, as well as utilization of related ECCD F1K services among nutritionally at-risk pregnant women in the Tutok Kainan program areas.
Prior to the signing of the marketing agreement, PNFP Gaas had an initial meeting with the prospect ARBO. During the meeting, she gave a brief overview of the Tutok Kainan for children and presented the market list and documents needed to be declared as eligible CBO providers for the Negotiated Procurement Community Participation activity. Before NNC9 and the identified provincial CBO signed the Marketing Agreement, PNFP Gaas discussed its content. RNPC Ekong expressed her appreciation to the provincial ARBO for their participation in the program. Following the signing, the Manager of BACLAY Cooperative expressed his gratitude for being part of the TK DSP, and he committed to take the necessary precautions to deliver quality goods to the LGUs included in the said program.
PNFP Marie-Claire A. Gaas, RND
