Mantalongon, Barili, Cebu – Barangay officials of this agricultural barangay in Barili commit to fully support the nutrition program with the upcoming full devolution of services brought about by the Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court ruling. This was one of the outcomes of the local government’s participation in the Regional Dialogue for the Punong Barangays: Enabling Nutrition Devolution organized by the National Nutrition Council Region VII on 13th of November 2021.
On 01 February 2022, the Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) led by Barangay Captain Norman T. Anore with Barangay Nutrition Scholar Felicitas D. Panugaling inaugurated their first barangay breastfeeding station. The BNC also recently approved two resolutions titled “A Resolution establishing a Barangay Mantalongon Breast-Feeding Station” and “Resolution Promoting and Supporting of Breastfeeding Practices for the Optimum Growth and Development of the Infant and Young Child in the Barangay.” The resolution was made possible through the technical assistance and coordination of the Barili Rural Health Unit, Barangay Mantalongon officials headed by Capt. Norman T, Anore, BNS Felicitas D. Panugaling, and ND II James Aaron Perez. Mantalongon.
A notable budget increase was made by the BNC for 2022 to support the nutrition activities in the barangay. Funded are dietary supplementation program for 6-23 months old children, BF1KD activities, and nutrition month campaign. The BNC hopes to continue their nutrition promotion activities thru “SugBusog 2 Vegetable Gardening Competition” to let every Mantalongonon be self-reliant in producing healthy and nutritious meals. Financial bounty will be given to winners for household and purok level contestants. Considered as the biggest livestock supplier in Cebu province, the BNC anchor their nutrition sensitive programs on food and nutrition security and maximize rice and corn farming and animal husbandry such as hog, cattle and poultry, fruit farming and even vegetable gardening to improve family income of households with malnourished children and pregnant and lactating women.
With the budget windfall brought about by the Supreme Court ruling, the Mantalongon BNC also included in their 2022 Barangay Nutrition Action Plan training program for their nutrition and health workers and BNC members to help them learn new skills, perform better, and become better nutrition implementers. BNC Chair Anore and BNS Panugaling expressed their excitement of what lies ahead this year and upcoming years for nutrition in Barangay Mantalongon, Barili, Cebu. // ND II James Aaron S. Perez, RND
