28 June 2022, Cagayan de Oro City – The Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TK DSP) Phase II commenced last 2 May 2022. The eight (8) recipient Local Government Units (LGU) along with the nutrition staff facilitated the distribution of the Ready-to-Eat food commodities to the recipient barangays.

Prior to the start of Phase II implementation, series of social preparations were made. Namely, Orientation to the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) on the new Reporting System, finalization, completion, and validation of masterlists, storage inspection, and among others. In addition, a courtesy visit to Municipal Health Officers (MHO) were carried-out to dialogue on the assistance and counterparts that the LGUs can provide.

The complementary feeding commodities to be given for the beneficiaries, infants ages 6-23 months old, are the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food products developed by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). In order to allow the LGUs ample time to prepare, the RTEs were delivered weeks before Phase II implementation started. A total of 1, 679 children beneficiaries for Phase II are currently receiving the said commodities.

The guidelines provide that children beneficiaries must undergo routine monitoring, visitation, and monthly weighing. The program was in effect for one month as of 2 June 2022. The weighing activities were led by the nutrition staff and the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS). PNFP Gwyn Y. Balaba was able to supervise all program areas. The results of the weighing activities are still for validation and consolidation by the nutrition staff for submission in the Regional and Central Office.

The TK DSP of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) X is one of the initiatives under National Dietary Supplementation Program of Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 to combat malnutrition and hunger specifically in the First 1000 Days (F1K) of life. The success of the program’s implementation was the result of the joint efforts of the National, Regional, and Local Offices, as well as the tremendous dedication and commitment of nutrition workers in championing nutrition.

NNC X through PNFP Balaba will continue to assist and monitor the program’s progress and updates throughout the remaining 150 feeding days implementation. (PNFP Gwyn Y. Balaba)