6 April 2021, Cagayan de Oro City – The National Nutrition Council X convened select Lanao del Norte areas, representatives from the Provincial Health Office and DOH’s Nutritionist-Dietitians for the first ever coordination meeting regarding the proposed Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TK DSP). This happened virtually last 30 March 2021, with a total of 16 participants attending.

There are seven (7) municipalities involved for the said program. These are: Kauswagan, Kolambugan, Linamon, Matungao, Nunungan, Sultan Naga Dimaporo and Tagoloan.

Nutrition Program Coordinator Gladys Mae S. Fernandez discussed the rationale of the program, its background, and priority groups. Moreover, NPC Fernandez presented the target implementation areas, initial program considerations, proposed TK components, and support expected from the local government units. For the TK DSP in Lanao del Norte, children 6-23 months old will be given food commodities for 180 days.

The Provincial Government through PHO Dr. Marujeta Opamen, as well as the recipient LGUs, expressed their thanks for having been considered as one of the priority areas of TK DSP.

The meeting also served as a venue to air the LGUs’ concerns regarding the submission of masterlists for children, as well as advance information on the accessibility of some barangays.

Jumpstarting from the meeting, NNC X will conduct continuous advocacy and coordination efforts with the LGUs and identified stakeholders as part of the social mobilization phase of the program.

Lanao del Norte is identified as one of the expansion areas of the TK DSP, which aims to prevent malnutrition, particularly stunting, through improving the quality and quantity of food and nutrient intakes of the target beneficiaries captured in the First 1000 Days period. (NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle)