Alcantara, Cebu – Pinpointing malnutrition as one of the town’s most serious problems, the municipality of Alcantara in the province of Cebu launched the first Comprehensive Nutrition Program Ordinance in the region on 01 February 2016 at the Alcantara Dome, Alcantara, Cebu.
The ordinance entitled “Establishing a Comprehensive Nutrition Program to Address Malnutrition and Sustained Programs for Nutrition for the Municipality of Alcantara, Cebu and appropriating funds thereof", was approved on 25 November 2015. The local government of Alcantara with the support from the World Vision Development Foundation Inc., partners and other stakeholders passed the said ordinance to solve the rising malnutrition problem in the municipality. The town registered a 14.40% undernutrition (weight-for-age) for its preschool children, according to the 2015 Operation Timbang Plus results which made it the 2nd nutritionally depressed municipality in the entire region.
The said policy promotes a sustainable strategy to help decrease the number of undernourished children, and at the same time adequately fund efforts to improve child and maternal healthcare. The ordinance also highlights the organization and strengthening of the Municipal and Barangay Nutrition Committees, proper implementation of nutrition programs including maternal and child care program, infant and young child feeding, community based food production, proper monitoring of nutrition status, promotion of healthy lifestyle and other activities to support good nutrition.
Alcantara Vice – Mayor Atty. Fritz A. Lastimoso said that “It is the main responsibility of the families to achieve the nutritional well-being of their children and it is the Local Nutrition Committee’s responsibility as leaders to help these families achieve it”. He also elaborated that the government of Alcantara shall provide budgetary allocation to support the implementation of the law. A 1% minimum allocation from the internal revenue allotment shall be set aside for its purpose.
NPC Dr. Parolita A. Mission congratulated the Alcantarahanons for successfully passing the ordinance and at the same time challenged the Municipal Nutrition Committee to strengthen the implementation of the law and improve its nutrition situation.
The activity ended with the commitment signing taken part by the officials of Alcantara and representatives from various partners and a round table meeting where a thorough discussion of causes of malnutrition and the proposed interventions was conducted.//NVS
