Region VIII

Details: Category: Region 8; Published: 02 August 2022

TACLOBAN CITY - The National Nutrition Council Region VIII concluded the 2022 Nutrition Month (Celebration with a culmination and awarding ceremony at the Robinson’s Place in Marasbaras, Tacloban City.

Beyond the NM culmination and awarding ceremony is NNC8 continued advocacy on bringing all nutrition stakeholders and partners in improving nutrition outcomes in the region.

The event was participated by various sectors including members of the Regional Nutrition Committee, Regional Nutrition Technical Working Group, media groups, other regional line agencies, nutrition workers such as Nutrition Action Officers, District/City Nutrition Program Coordinators and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs), development partners, civil society organizations and the youth sectors.

The event was warmly welcomed by Robinson’s Place Regional Operations Manager, Ms. Jennifer Puno, an NNC8 newly ally. Robinson’s Place is the co-convenor of the Regional Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement under the business sector with Tacloban City Chamber of Commerce as the lead convenor.

Details: Category: Region 8; Published: 02 August 2022

PALO, Leyte – The local government of Hindang, Leyte has wrapped up its 2022 Nutrition Month Celebration with series of activities on July 28, 2020.

This year’s Nutrition Month Campaign with a theme “New Normal na Nutrisyon, Sama-Samang Gawan ng Solusyon” calls for strengthened nutrition interventions and solidarity towards nutrition improvement as the country shifts towards living with the COVID-19 virus.

The Campaign calls for a collective effort to improve nutrition as we move forward to a better new normal. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of nutrition in building resilience and recovery from the pandemic; stimulate discussions among stakeholders, nutrition partners and key influencers on how to build back better to a new normal and scale-up of nutrition interventions; and engage various sectors and the public in activities that promote nutrition.

The activity was held at the Municipal Gymnasium and was participated by the municipal leaders headed by the Municipal Mayor and Chairperson of the Municipal Nutrition Committee, Hon. Betty A. Cabal, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer and Municipal Health Officer, Doc. Estarmio P. Zafico, barangay officials of the twenty (20) barangays, department heads, RHU staff, school heads and teachers, Barangay Health Workers (BHW) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS).

Present also during the activity were Ms. Melody Edulantes and Ms. Saloma B. Gisulga of VSU-BIDANI and Ms. Annabel B. Limbagan, representing the National Nutrition Council Region 8.

It was officially opened and welcomed by the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer and Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Estarmio P. Zafico. In his message, he thanked the barangay officials of the 20 barangays for their participation of the said activity. He also emphasized the importance of nutrition in bullilding resilience and recovery from the pandemic.

Moreover, Hon. Mayor Betty A. Cabal in her message she emphasized that the 2022 Nutrition theme calls for strengthened nutrition interventions and solidarity towards nutrition improvement among all Hindanganons as the country shifts towards living with the COVID-19 virus.

She also shared that the pandemic brought by the COVID-19 virus has huge impacts on nutrition such as disruption or limitation in the delivery of health and nutrition services. But she then emphasized some positive impacts such as innovation in service delivery and capability activities and home food production like some people were able to sell their goods/products online and solidarity among the people.

Meanwhile, Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo Jr. of the National Nutrition Council Region 8, thanked the good Mayor for her initiatives and support to nutrition programs and activities in the municipality and in terms of financial assistance to all the BNSs of the 20 barangays. RNPC Dotollo emphasized to invest in nutrition programs/projects/ activities in different sectors and make dialogues with stakeholders, nutrition partners and key influencers to scale-up nutrition interventions.

In addition, DM II Limbagan shared that the 2022 Nutrition theme signifies the key role of nutrition in building resilience and recovery from the pandemic. She also commended the health and nutrition workers especially the Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars for their dedication and active participation to nutrition programs and activities in their respective barangays.

Also, part of the activity was preparation and distribution of Binignit and Nutripacks Champorado which were prepared and distributed by the BNSs.

Nutripack Champorado is locally produced by Hindang Nutripack Producers Association.

Another activity during the culmination was the awarding of winners for Best in Association Gardens, Barangay with highest MELLPI Pro score and Best Displayed Area/Exhibits (home/community grown vegetables and fruits).

Details: Category: Region 8; Published: 01 August 2022

PALO, Leyte - Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator, Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr. speaks on 2022 Nutrition Month theme at the National Food Authority (NFA) on July 23, 2022.

Heeding to the invitation of NFA official to be the guest speaker during their 2022 NM culmination activity, Dr. Dotollo shared this year’s theme to the regional and provincial NFA officials and employees. It was also the agency’s effort to gender mainstreaming and eliminate gender discrimination in the field of nutrition.

Dr. Dotollo emphasized the role of the agency in uplifting the nutritional status of the vulnerable population through rice fortification particularly that of iron. According to him fortification of NFA rice with iron will reduce if not eliminate iron deficiency anemia among the vulnerable population: the pregnant and lactating women, children, teenage girls, and the elderly.

He invited the NFA leadership to be part of the Regional Technical Working Group for nutrition so they can help improved the malnutrition status of the region.

He stressed to the audience the call of the NFA Regional Director Jasmin C. Lintag to go back to the basic as and for solidarity in nutrition actions as the country shifts from COVID 19 pandemic to endemic mode.

Details: Category: Region 8; Published: 01 August 2022

PALO, Leyte – The Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator of the National Nutrition Council VIII, Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo Jr., conducted a General Orientation on Nutrition in Emergencies (NIE) to members of the Municipal Nutrition Committee/Cluster of Inopacan, Leyte.

Dr. Dotollo, Jr. discussed the topics on the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Framework, cluster approach and the nutrition cluster, importance of nutrition emergencies, and minimum service packages in nutrition in emergencies.

With him, Mr. Ramel O. Bandibas, Development Management Officer II, who discussed the common terminologies of nutrition in emergencies, basic concepts of nutrition and malnutrition, nutrition in emergencies interventions, nutrition services during pandemic, and overview of nutrition information management.

Details: Category: Region 8; Published: 01 August 2022

PALO, Leyte - The Provincial Government of Samar through its Provincial Nutrition Evaluation Team (PNET) honors top performing local government units (LGUs) and nutrition workers or local nutrition focal point in a ceremony dubbed Pasidungong ha Nutrisyon in during the 2022 Samar Provincial Nutrition Summit last July 21, 2022.

Pasidungog ha Nutrisyon is a local term meaning to give honor in the field of nutrition.

List of complete awardees are listed below:

LGUs with Best Nutrition Practices:

City of Calbayog - Creating an Enabling Environment towards a Better Nutrition System
City of Catbalogan - Improving Health and Nutrition Outcomes by Investing in Human ResourceCapacity
Municipality of Calbiga - Investing in the First 1000 Days: Protecting our Children’s Welfare
Municipality of Pagsanghan - One for Nutrition, Nutrition for All: Multi-sectoral Collaboration in the First 1000 Days
Municipality of Paranas - Addressing Malnutrition One Brick at a Time
Municipality of Tarangnan - Green Revolution in the First 1000 Days to Achieve Food Security

Top 3 LGUs with Highest 2021 Operation Timbang (OPT) Coverage:

Municipality of Matuguinao - 93.6%
City of Catbalogan - 93.2%
Municipality of Sta Rita - 81.5%

Details: Category: Region 8; Published: 01 August 2022

PALO, Leyte – The Municipal Nutrition Committee of Calbiga in Samar province sustained their malunggay tree planting which was part of the advocacy last year of the National Nutrition Council in the region.

The regional initiative last year dubbed “One-million malunggay Tree Planting Challenge” in the entire region.

Today, residents of Calbiga is now reaping malunggay leaves as part of their day to day menu.

Moringa, also known as malunggay in the Philippines, is intriguingly one of the healthiest parts of your favorite Filipino soup dishes.