Guihulngan City - Investing on empowering mothers to prevent malnutrition in the community, the Barangay Planas in Guihulngan City have organized “MAkugihong mga Nanay sa Barangay PLAnas” (MANAPLA). Composed of mothers in the community, the organization mainly ensures that women, especially those with malnourished children or are breastfeeding are provided with the right nutrition information and given enough support as they raise their children and nurture their families.

Initially a breastfeeding support group, the organization that only aims to help address malnutrition through exclusive breastfeeding, and proper complementary feeding, it bloomed to give its members additional income to be able to access more food for their loved ones. It is with this goal that the Barangay Nutrition Committee collaborated with the Provincial Agriculture Office to further strengthen the vision and goals of the group.

With this new collaboration, member-mothers are not only taught good nutrition for themselves and the members of their households but are also trained on how to prepare nutritious meals, snacks, and refreshing drinks for their loved ones. These foods and refreshments also serve as income-generating projects for them. Some of the mothers were already selling the nutritious goodies that they prepared during one of the lectures and demonstrations spearheaded by the Provincial Agriculture Office. Their products include delicious and nutritious taro chips, camote doughnuts, vegetable salad, and many more. They also concocted healthy beverages like cucumber and “galay” (camote tops) juice which would surely quench your thirst. //NGS