The Department of Health (DOH) Regional Office VIII in partnership with the National Nutrition Council (NNC) VIII conducted a Healthy Food Fair on 23-24 February 2017 to celebrate the Philippine Heart Month at the Robinson’s Expansion Area, Robinsons Tacloban City.
This year’s theme, “Gulay at Prutas araw-arawin. Matamis, mamantika at maalat hinay-hinayin,” was in accordance to the Presidential Proclamation No. 1096 which calls for a national awareness on the growing prevalence of heart diseases among Filipinos and institute a highest possible degree of care by involving the community through extensive mass education.
Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr., NNC VIII Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator shared the topic on the “10 Kumainments,” a campaign to promote the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos. RNPC Dotollo emphasizes the kumainments  No.3-Kumain ng gulay at prutas araw-araw; No. 8-Hinay-hinay sa maaalat, mamantika at matatamis;  No. 9- Panatilihin ang tamang timbang; and No.10- Maging Aktibo. Iwasan ang Alak; huwag manigarilyo. As mentioned by Dr. Paula Paz Syndiongco, DOH VIII Assistant Regional Director, during her opening message “we have only one heart, do take care of it”, the 10 Kumainments are simple and easy to remember guidelines which encourages individuals to eat the right foods, do a regular exercise and pursue a healthy lifestyle in 10 easy rules.
The cooking demonstration was spearheaded by the City Nutrition Office of Tacloban and the Eastern Visayas State University which shares a healthy, affordable and easy to prepare food recipes.
This year’s Healthy Food Fair was attended in by the different line agencies to include; Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), PhilHealth, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) among others.