3 November 2021, Cagayan de Oro City – The National Nutrition Council (NNC) X conducted another batch of Advocacy Meeting in Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TK DSP) under Phase III and IV municipalities, specifically in Kauswagan and Balo-i, Lanao del Norte.
Conducted last 28 October, Provincial Nutrition Focal Point Lizelle L. Bete went to visit Mayor Rommel C. Arnado of Kauswagan and Mayor Hanifa A. Ali of Balo-i to present the program overview, objectives, components, priority groups, social preparation requirements, roles of local government units (LGUs) and updates of TK DSP in Lanao del Norte.
During the visit in Balo-i, Municipal Information Officer Mohaimen A. Rasol together with the Nurses under the Nurse Deployment Project (NDP) Nasraima A. Saga, Macsapala D. Azis, Saima S. Salic and Nutritionist-Dietitian II under the Nutritionist-Dietitians Deployment Project (NDDP) Jona S. Dominguez, were present. Mr. Rasol raised his questions regarding the dry commodities from Department of Science and Technology- Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) and suggested that the focal person from NNC X as well as the nutrition staff in their municipality shall have a taste of the commodities before the start of the feeding activity to identify whether the taste would be acceptable to the beneficiaries.
NDDP Dominguez shared that the two (2) recipient barangays in the municipality have expressed their support to the program. She also added that an orientation of the program will be scheduled in the recipient barangays as soon as possible.
Moreover, PNFP Bete advocated and proposed the creation of nutrition offices and plantilla items on nutrition, and Mr. Rasol shared that their municipality is currently looking for a Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) as the former MNAO has retired from service.
In the Municipality of Kauswagan, Mayor Rommel C. Arnado was present together with his legal advisor, Atty. Warren Lim and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman Mr. Marjune Carballo upon visit. Mayor Arnado expressed his full support to the program. He said that responsible parenthood must be taught first to the mothers of the beneficiaries before the feeding activity to encourage and educate the parents on their important roles on ensuring the nutrition of their children.
Mayor Arnado said that aside from the TK DSP, the LGU will also augment the School-Based Feeding Program of the Department of Education, by providing another meal to the learners. The commodities for the feeding program will be supplied by their local farmers. This is also to support the local farmers and provide fresh and nutritious meals to the children beneficiaries. Mayor Arnado also expressed his ambition to eradicate all forms of malnutrition in their municipality.
In addition, Atty. Lim shared that the municipality is looking for a Nutritionist-Dietitian and is planning to build a nutrition office in connection to their future nutrition plans and programs.
NNC X is grateful for the all-out support that has been shown by the municipalities of Kauswagan and Balo-i to the program. Surely, the NNC X will continuously provide technical assistance and support to the recipient LGUs of the program. (PNFP Lizelle Bete)
