Cebu City – As part of the social preparation for the full implementation of the Early Childhood Care and Development Program (ECCD), the National Nutrition Council 7 together with its media partner, the Media Information Network for Nutrition and Development 7 (MIND 7) visited the municipality of Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, Cebu on 10 June 2016 for an ECCD Caravan.

Partnering with the Philippine Business for Social Progress, the caravan catered to more than 300 participants composed of pregnant, lactating and mothers of children aging 6 months to 2 years old. Representatives of the Regional Nutrition Committee member agencies including the Department of Health R 7, Department of Social Welfare and Development R 7, and the Department of Agriculture R 7 provided lectures and information education materials to attendees. Distributed were breastfeeding kits, 10 Kumainment fans, Pinggang Pinoy handouts and seeds.

Santa Fe Municipal Mayor Hon. Jose “Titing” Esgana during his message thanked all the organizers of the activity for choosing the municipality to be the venue for the caravan. He also emphasized the importance of proper nutrition during the First 1000 days of life and stressed the importance of availing the programs and activities of the municipality to help aid these families.

Santa Fe being a fourth class municipality is one of the three identified Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program (ASAPP) - ECCD areas in the region. Santa Fe Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Rowena D. Manalili together with the members of the Municipal Nutrition Committee presented the municipal nutrition situation and projects for the past three years to the members of the media.

According to the NNC 7 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Parolita A. Mission, ECCD is a program that covers full range of health, nutrition, early education, agriculture and social service programs that provide for the holistic needs of children 0-6 years old thereby improving their psychosocial development and physical growth. The program addresses the call for a “holistic approach to the provision of health, nutrition, education and social services to children 0-8 years of age”, but with an even more refined focus on the first 1000 days of life.

NNC 7 and MIND 7 is set to visit the Municipality of Dalaguete and Tuburan on July 7 and 21, respectively ///Norre Jean V. delos Santos