Region X

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 09 November 2015

Nutrition in Emergencies Training for the Regional Nutrition Cluster X CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, November 2 (PIA) – Members of the nutrition emergency cluster were convened in Cagayan de Oro city on 19-23 October 2015 for a training workshop in Nutrition in Emergencies (NiE) to develop their competencies inadministering standards and appropriate nutrition interventions for emergencies and disasters.

The National Nutrition Council (NNC) as designated chair of the cluster spearheaded the activity, invited Local government units (LGUs) with existing local nutrition clusters, nutrition action officers in at risk areas, together with the members of the regional nutrition cluster to compose the regional NiE training.

The workshop introduced concepts on nutrition cluster coordination, assessment of nutritional status, micronutrient interventions, infant and young child feeding, selective feeding, and monitoring and evaluation of nutrition interventions during emergencies.

NNC-10 Nutrition Program Coordinator Marissa DM Navales, meanwhile, noted that Ozamiz City, Valencia City, and Camiguin have already initiated the conduct of NiE training on their area, and that the confab aims to cascade the priority further towards other cities and provinces in Northern Mindanao. (JCV/ RTWG X/ PIA)

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 26 October 2015

October 15, 2015. Mayor Alvin Giovanni A. Labis of Alubijid, Misamis Oriental with the support of Region X Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) is convening the 36 local salt producers and traders in his municipality into a forum dubbed as “Saktong Iodine sa Asin” Forum in an effort to ensure that locally produced salt are adequately iodized. The move is part of the implementation of the Salt Iodization Law aimed at eliminating iodine deficiency disorders. The forum is set on November 4, 2015 at the Caba-Caba LGU Training Center in Alubijid. Among the more important point of discussion is on quality assurance and quality control measures in producing adequately-iodized salt.

Aside from the local salt producers and traders, Mayor Labis is also involving the officers and members of the Municipal and Barangay Nutrition Committees as critical stakeholders in the salt iodization efforts of the LGU.

The Bantay Asin Task Force of Region X chaired by DOH Regional Director Nimfa B. Torrizo, is also focusing efforts on Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental being among the provinces in the country with mild iodine deficiency disorder among 6-12 year old children. This is based on the 8^th National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology. The Task Force was reactivated in November 2014 led by the National Nutrition Council X as the watchdog that will ensure only adequately iodized salt reaches the households.

Researches show that deficiency in iodine leads to goiter, abortions, congenital abnormalities, impaired mental functions among others. mdmn

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 30 September 2015

An iodine testing of the salt brought by the participants using the WYD Iodine Checker was executed by NNC X to determine whether salt sold in markets and used by establishments in Ozamiz City are adequately iodized. (photo credit: Philippine Information Agency 10) Through the combined efforts of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) 10, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 10 with support from UNICEF, another round of Multi-sectoral Forum on “Saktong Iodine sa Asin” was held in Ozamiz City last September 18. Said forum is directed to further intensify the implementation of Republic Act 8172 otherwise known as the ASIN Law to heighten the awareness on the monitoring and ensuring the availability and use of only adequately iodized. Ozamiz City was identified as a target area for the forum being an entry point of salt supply in Misamis Occidental. Misamis Occidental is identified as one of the provinces with mild iodine deficiency among 6-12 year old children in the region.

Honorable Octavio O. Parojinog, Jr., SB Member Committee on Health of Ozamiz City, in his message said “consumption of adequate amount of ‘Iodine’ is very important among pregnant women and in the prevention of malnutrition among children.” Recognizing the importance of Iodine in the diet, an executive order will soon be issued by Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog to formally organize their city’s Bantay Asin Task Force.

NPC Marissa DM. Navales underscored that iodine is an essential element for a person to have a proper thyroid function and correct growth and development of the brain. She also explained the dangers of the lack of iodine or iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) which results in a variety of abnormalities, such as goiter, miscarriage and stillbirth, as well as congenital anomalies, like deaf-mutism, squinted eyes, poor growth and mental retardation.

An iodine testing of the salt brought by the participants using the WYD Iodine Checker was executed by NNC X to determine whether salt sold in markets and used by establishments in Ozamiz City are adequately iodized. The new Sangkap Pinoy’s Saktong Iodine sa Asin Quality Seal for table salt to address iodine deficiency was introduced to the participants to guide them in purchasing only adequately iodized salt.

The forum was attended by barangay leaders and chairpersons of the Barangay Committee on Health from the city’s 51 barangays, as well as select members of the City Nutrition Committee and Nutrition Office staff, market administrators and members of the different vendors’ associations in the city. hge

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 15 October 2015

Bonifacio Misamis Occidental Early Warning System for Food and Nutrition Security Team The Municipality of Bonifacio is all set for the establishment of an Early Warning System for Food and Nutrition Security (EWS-FNS) after undergoing a two-day consultative workshop last October 12-13 facilitated by the National Nutrition Council (NNC). The Municipality of Bonifacio was selected as an expansion area of the project because of the 16.65% prevalence of underweight preschool children based on the 2014 Operation Timbang - the highest in the Province of Misamis Occidental and because of the willingness of Mayor Evelyn C. Dumanjug to be part of the initiative.

Through the early warning system, the Municipality of Bonifacio will be assisted in detecting, at an early stage, an impending food crisis that might trigger or cause food insecurity and undernutrition. Ms. Alona E. Teo, Nutrition Officer II of the Nutrition Surveillance Division of the NNC Central Office, facilitator of the workshop said - “with the EWS-FNS, Bonifacio is now one step closer to a malnutrition free community’.

Members of the local EWS Team identified during the workshop the five (5) barangays (Barangays Digson, Poblacion, Bagumbang, Liloan and Bolinsong) that will serve as sentinel areas for monitoring of household hunger and diet diversity. The team is set to attend a training in November on nutrition and nutrition-related data collection and analysis as well as on the management and maintenance of the EWS-FNS.

Bonifacio joins Ozamiz City as Northern Mindanao expansion areas of the early warning system. srdc & hge

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 14 October 2011

October 3, 2011- first day of the 4^th quarter of the year, the National Nutrition Council Region 10 in close coordination with Dr. Melania U. Untao - PHO and Ms. Maguinda E. Manigsaca, Provincial Nutrition Action Officers of Lanao del Norte (LDN) and Misamis Occidental respectively held a back-to-back meeting with the Provincial/City/Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (P/C/MNAOs) and Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) of the aforementioned provinces. The meeting was assembled at the Liga ng Barangay Session Hall, Oroquieta City for the Misamis Occidental group in the morning. Meanwhile, LDN group was held at Macapagal Training Center, Tubod, Lanao del Norte in the afternoon.

The two meetings were intentionally called to talk about the on-going Promotion of Good Nutrition (PGN) trainings on “Infant and Young Child Feeding cum Pabasa sa Nutrisyon” (IYCF-PSN) which is at present being conducted at the municipal and city level by the trained local PGN-IYCF/PSN Trainers/Facilitators in the province. NPC Zenaida T. Tondares and the NAOs discussed the training dates for the remaining batches of PGN-IYCF/PSN training of barangay implementers.

The meeting also discussed the Nutrition Program Management (NPM) Training for PNC and MNAOs tentatively set on 7-11 November 2011 to be facilitated by UPLB as contracted by NNC. Other items discussed were status of CGS Training, orientation and fabrication of height board by municipality and barangay; and ranking of municipalities per CY 2010 OPT results.

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 13 October 2015

On October 6, 2015, the City Government of Valencia through the City Nutrition Committee breaks the ground for the establishment of Nutriland Project which will showcase the city’s different Impact Programs on nutrition.

The Nutriland is a 2.5 hectare lot situated at Purok 2, Pinatilan, Valencia City, Bukidnon which is aimed to provide avenue for nutritional programs of the city.

Ms. Hazel P. Dondonayos, City Nutrition Action Officer, said that the Nutriland is the realization of the dream of the City Nutrition Committee a year ago, after Valencia City garnered the CROWN (Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition) Award. “The Nutriland will showcase the good practices of the city’s nutrition programs and through this program, we can put all nutrition impact program in one setting which will serve as a strategic venue for the nutrition activities.”

In behalf of the City Mayor, Hon. Azucena P. Huervas, the City Vice Mayor, Hon. Rolando P. Laviña led the groundbreaking as he was assisted by City Councilors Hon. Policarpo P. Murillo IV, MD and Hon. Camilo E. Pepito to bury the time capsule. Also present are Barangay Pinatilan Brgy. Captain Hon. Rady Jocson and the members his council together the members of the City Nutrition Committee and the local stakeholders.

Hon. Camilo E. Pepito, Chairman of Committee on Agriculture and Environment, during his message, said that the Nutriland is a manifestation of the administration’s commitment to the people, making Valencia a greener place and a winner in nutrition. “I am congratulating the City Mayor, Hon. Azucena P. Huervas for initiating a very unique and resourceful program for the people of Valencia,’’ he said.