Oroquieta City is currently hammering efforts for the passage of the OROQUIETA CITY COMPREHENSIVE NUTRITION PROGRAM ORDINANCE to address the increasing problem of malnutrition in the City. Authored by Hon. Jesselie Borbon, Chairperson of the Committee on Health, the ordinance aims to put in place a comprehensive nutrition program to improve child and maternal nutritional status and appropriating funds for its implementation of the comprehensive program. The ordinance contains strong provisions on ensuring the functionality of the City Nutrition Committee as well as in monitoring the results of program implementation. The proposed ordinance also highlights the need to help the people of Oroquieta City enjoy their right to good nutrition.

In a meeting held between NNC X and City Mayor Jason P. Almonte, the City Mayor confirmed the hiring of a full time City Nutrition Program Coordinator to strengthen the coordination of implementation of the City Nutrition Program. The City Council, on the other hand, will put at the discussion table the creation of a separate Nutrition Office with nutrition staff after the passage of the City Ordinance on Nutrition.

The City Government, through the proposed ordinance recognizes that multi-stakeholders participation, evidence-based interventions and good governance are the key elements for nutrition improvement in the City. Malnutrition, particularly undernutrition, is among the major public health concerns of Oroquieta City having the highest and second highest prevalence of undernutrition in Northern Mindanao for the past three years. The City Health Office is also bent on putting a halt to iodine deficiency disorder in the City through the creation of a City Bantay Asin Task Force. mdmn