PALO, Leyte – The Local Government Unit of Merida, Leyte made the last hurrah of 2022 Nutrition Month (NM) culmination activity on July 31, 2022.

It was schedule on Sunday so there will be more who can attend according to Mr. Ernesto Pening, the town’s Municipal Nutrition Action Officer.

The culmination activity was participated by the LCE, local Sangunian, Liga ng mga Barangays and officials, MNC members, DepEd teachers and administrators, various government agencies, community-based volunteers such as Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs), community-based organizations and farmers and mothers.

The event started with parade around the Poblacion and ended in the covered court where a short program and display of farm products of the municipality was done.

There was also NM contest such as biggest fruits and vegetables and poster making contest among high school students.

It was warmly welcomed by Mayor Rolando M. Villasencio who earlier had a talk with Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr. The mayor said that food was abundant even during the last 3 years of the pandemic and people do not have to go to neighboring city of Ormoc and town for food.

He intends to buy the remaining fruits and vegetables but cannot do because all the display by the farmers were bought by residence because its cheap and fresh.

This was affirmed by their Municipal Agriculturist who said that food security and food sufficiency is the utmost priority of the municipality. He acknowledged the participation of community-based organizations who attended the NM culmination particularly the farmers whose contribution to food security and sufficiency brought down hunger and malnutrition in the town.

Meanwhile, RNPC Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr. thanked the LGU particularly Mayor Villasencio and the entire Municipal Nutrition Committee for giving priority on nutrition programs.

He said the NM theme of this year “New Normal na Nutrition, Sama samang Gawan ng Solusyon” is apt for the municipality as they implement nutrition programs through multisectoral approach.

Dr. Dotollo further thanked the mayor for putting in their Devolution Transition Plan creation of 4 nutrition permanent plantilla positions. He also thanked the Liga ng mga Barangay for coming up for the first time Barangay Nutrition Action Plans in the 35 barangays.

The challenge according to Dr. Dotollo is its implementation and later monitoring and evaluation of Barangay nutrition program interventions.

Furthermore, Dr. Dotollo challenge the municipality all the sectors present to make Merida not only the home of merry and dashing people but likewise the home of the healthiest.

In closing he exclaimed making Merida home of the healthiest starts with making the town “Nutrisyong Sapat para sa Lahat.” #RNPC-CPD