21 April 2021, Cagayan de Oro City – The local government of Sumilao, Bukidnon envisions a well-nourished, healthy, socially and economically productive Sumilaonon by eliminating hunger and reducing all forms of malnutrition in the municipality. To attain this, LGU Sumilao issued Ordinance No. 01, series of 2020 entitled “An Ordinance Establishing the Standard Policies in the Implementation of the ‘Nutrition Code’ in the Municipality of Sumilao, Province of Bukidnon”. The ordinance was sponsored by Sangguniang Bayan Member Nissabel T. Cañada and approved on 11 February 2020.

Scaled-up health and nutrition interventions through innovative programs and resource allocation are the ways of the municipality to improve the Sumilaonon’s quality of life.

The Nutrition Code prioritizes health and nutrition interventions for vulnerable groups such as infants and young children, pregnant and lactating women, adolescents and the elderly. The First 1000 Days program was highlighted in Section 10 of the Code which indicates that there shall be a comprehensive and sustainable strategy to address the health and nutrition problems affecting the vulnerable population.

The updating of the Sumilao Nutrition Action Plan and the composition and functions of the Municipal Nutrition Committee were also included in the provisions of the Code.

Dr. Adrain Jed Garrett J. Lucero, MPM, Sumilao Municipal Health Officer quoted, “since Sumilao’s Nutrition Program is still on its commencement stage, the goal is to create a unified, holistic approach.” He added, “we aim to cover all people starting from conception to senility. The approach shall be age-specific and sensitive to provide essential nutrition services.”

With the Nutrition Code, LGU Sumilao hopes that various agencies will take part in the whole nutrition program implementation. (NO II Arlie Joy O. Damiles)