17-19 February 2013- The National Nutrition Council through MQ Media Zone- NNC’s media partner has set up a community radio station in Tubod. Host of the Nutriskwela Community Radio Station is the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte. The National Telecommunication Commission has designated “DXNE” as the new station’s call sign. Provincial Governor Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo has entered last December 2012 into a Memorandum of Agreement with DOH Assistant Secretary Maria-Bernardita T Flores, Executive Director IV of the National Nutrition Council for the setting up of the Community Radio Station. Dubbed by Lanao del Norte LGU as “Radyo Kalambuan”, the FM station is 94.3 Mghz in the local radio dial. The goal of the Nutriskwela Community Radio Station is to empower the community through radio to disseminate correct, current and relevant nutrition , health , educational and other developmental information from its various sectors of the community including government and non- government agencies. To empower the Nutriskwela Community Radio Station Project, MQ Media Zone conducted a hands-on training on Community Radio Broadcasting for members of the multi-sectoral Community Radio Council held at the Mindanao Civic Center Hotel in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
The multi-sectoral Community Radio Council is composed of representatives from the major sectors of Lanao del Norte , viz: the religious group represented by Pastors Arsenio “Dhodz” Licera and Grace M. Cabugnason of the Association of Assemblies of God , the youth sector through its leader - Mr. Lordleos Lavv L. Ladonga , the education sector – as represented by Department of Education School Principal Ms Maria Eva S. Edon of Tubod National High School and President Helen A. Tesoro of North Central Mindanao College based at Lala, Lanao del Norte ; the farmers group is represented by Mr. Deliman Lahoylahoy, the women’s group is represented by Ms. Jenny Vi G. Malazarte, the Senior Citizens is represented by its President - Mr. Rolando M. Mocorro, the Tubod Police Head Quarters as led by Police Chief Inspector (PCI) Delmani S. Sudding together with SPO4 Barquilla and PO2 Estenzo, the Army Group representing 351 Batallion led by Mr. Pancho O. Jamito and the local government unit – represented by Engr. George Dimavivas of the Provincial Health Office/concurrently designated as Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) , Ms Ma. Eleonor Sarsalojo of the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) , Parent Leader Ms Hearty Dula- also a BHW and Photographer - Mr Daryl Toleno .
Tubod as seat of the provincial government of Lanao del Norte is one of 10 new sites of the Nutriskwela Community Radio Station Project for 2013 based on the following criteria : (1) based on the results of the 2011 updating of the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) by DOST-FNRI , for 0-60 months old children , the following results are indicated: Lanao del Norte has medium prevalence of underweight at 19.0 % ; it has high prevalence of stunting at 41.0 % – the 2ndhighest in Northern Mindanao , in fact higher than the regional average of 37.2% and the national average of 33.6% ; prevalence of overweight in Region X is highest also in LDN at 5.4% . This result is over twice higher than the regional average of 2.4%; also in fact higher than the national average of 4.3%. The national target for overweight by 2016 is to keep it at 3.3 % or lower. Among the 61-120 months children, prevalence of stunting in LDN is at 46.8 % - this is higher than the regional average of 40.3% and national average of 33.6%. Stunting is an indication of prolonged deprivation of food and frequent bouts of infection; Among adolescents aging 10-19 years old, stunting is recorded at 47.9 %- 2nd highest province in Region X (45.6 %) , and higher than the national at 35.7 %. Based on 2010-2012 Operation Timbang (OPT) results, prevalence of combined underweight and severely underweight 0-71 months old children based on WHO-CGS is recorded at reducing rate of 13.37 % in 2010 , 12.64 % in 2011 and 11.46 % in 2012. This translates to 9546 PS in 2010, 9437 PS in 2011 and 8394 PS in in 2012. Among provinces of Region X, prevalence of UW + SUW in Lanao del Norte ranked 1st (2) Tubod is included in the 609 priority convergence areas, (3) the LGU of Lanao del Norte’s willingness to set up the station and, (4) Tubod in Lanao del Norte has no commercial radio station.
“Radyo Kalambuan” is the 2nd Community Radio Station established by the National Nutrition Council in Region X. The 1st one having been set up in Kalilangan, Bukidnon in 2008.
It is envisioned then that through “Radyo Kalambuan”, the dissemination of correct, current and relevant nutrition and health , as well as educational and developmental information from various concerned sectors of the community including government and non- government agencies will be strengthened thus contribute in the growth and development of Lanao del Norte, the region and the country as a whole.
