MANILA (PIA) -- July is National Nutrition Month in the
Philippines. It is a time to focus on eating healthy and building
resilience against malnutrition. The theme for this year's
celebration, “Healthy Diet Gawing (Make It) Affordable For All,”
centers on making healthy diets more accessible in order to
help improve the health and well-being of people all over the
Philippines.
Malnutrition, according to the National Nutrition Council
(NNC), is a serious problem in the Philippines. The NNC said
about one in three Filipino children under the age of five is
stunted, meaning they are too short for their age. Stunting can
lead to a number of health problems, including impaired
cognitive development and increased risk of chronic diseases
later in life.
Photo courtesy: PIA-NCR Facebook Page
Ms. Milagros Elisa Federizo, Metro Manila Nutrition Program
Coordinator at NNC, said around 35 percent or four out of 10
Filipino families in the country are unable to eat healthy and
nutritious food.
There are a number of reasons why malnutrition is so common
in the Philippines. One reason is poverty. Many families cannot
afford to provide their children with a healthy diet. Another
reason is lack of access to clean water and sanitation. These
factors can make it difficult for people to get the nutrients
they need.
Federizo added that while some 75.2 million Filipinos do not
partake in a healthy diet, enjoying healthy foods need not be
heavy on the budget, as there are ways to have proper
nutrition at a minimal cost. These include growing vegetables
in containers, engaging in breastfeeding for babies up to 2
years old, including greens in one’s plate, and adding an egg
on your diet.
National Nutrition Month is also a time to raise awareness
about malnutrition and to promote healthy eating habits. There
are a number of ways institutions celebrate the annual event.
The poverty alleviation program of newly appointed
Presidential Adviser Larry Gadon is set to launch its Batang
Busog Malusog (BBM) in July, as he eyed tapping the private
sector for help.
“Iyong mga malalaking mga kumpanya o negosyante,
hihikayatin ko sila. Magkakaroon ako ng link sa kanila na
kanilang i-adopt itong programa na ito bilang corporate social
responsibility at sila ay mag-ampon o mag-adopt ng isang
public school sa kanilang nasasakupang areas (I will ask
businesses to adopt this program as their corporate social
responsibility program or adopt a public school near their
areas),” Gadon said.
He said poverty alleviation that is fair and just is among the
primary programs of the Marcos administration.
The BBM program, he explained, will prioritize school children
impeded by learning abilities due to malnutrition, according to
studies.
Gadon said he plans to leverage his long experience in
corporate law practice to convince the private sector to help
in such programs.
In March, the Department of Health (DOH) cited data from the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that the stunting rate
among children aged 0 to 23 months had plateaued over the
last 10 years at 21.6 percent.
While data from the PSA showed 12.3 percent of children aged
0 to 23 months are underweight.
Children aged 0 to 4 years old accounted for over 11 million as
of the 2020 census, or a little over 10 percent of the
Philippines’ estimated population of 113 million.
Contributed photo
In Caraga Region, various stakeholders kicked off the 49th
National Nutrition Month with a motorcade in Butuan City,
which was followed by an opening program at the Organic
Agricultural Training Center (OATC) in Caraga State University
(CSU). Media practitioners were also engaged in a press
conference with the officials and members of the Regional
Nutrition Cluster (RNC).
Dr. Cesar Cassion, regional director of the Department of
Health (DOH) Caraga, emphasized that this year's National
Nutrition Month is a call for everyone to make nutritious food
accessible and affordable for all.
Dr. Niño Archie Labordo, regional nutrition program
coordinator of the NNC Caraga, also said that this year's
National Nutrition Month focuses on two things namely,
healthy diet and affordable food for the Filipino people. He said
that food affordability means the capacity to pay a market
price for food compared to the proportion of a household's
income and other expenses. However, he noted that the prices
of food are getting higher.
Labordo reiterated the roles and responsibilities of the
member agencies of the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC)
and the Regional Nutrition Technical Working Group (RNTWG)
in the fulfillment of the nutrition programs in the region. He
also asked for the support of the civil society organizations,
which include the Gawad Kalinga, and to the members
Association of Barangay Council (ABC).
On behalf of the Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) Caraga assistant regional director and
officer-in-charge Engr. Donald Seronay, Elenita Mandap,
planning officer III/chairperson of the Regional Nutrition
Evaluation Team (RNET), called on all parents to ensure
nutritious food intake of their children to prevent malnutrition,
and to support family members who are pregnant, so they may
receive proper care for a healthy pregnancy and to have a safe
delivery and healthy baby. She also stressed the need to
practice exclusive breastfeeding to infants.
Meanwhile, Technical Director for Operations Rebecca Atega,
who represented Engr. Ricardo Oñate, regional director of the
Department of Agriculture Caraga and vice chairperson of the
Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC), emphasized that without
agriculture, there will be no adequate food for everyone.
Hence, agriculture ensures food security to all Filipinos.
Dr. Victor Emmanuel Ozarraga, director of Gawad Kalinga, and
co-chairperson of Regional Development Council (RDC) Caraga,
elaborated that they have been engaging and implementing
programs in the different barangays depending on their needs.
He said that everyone is equal in worth and dignity. In Gawad
Kalinga, they work with family, LGUs, and other sectors in the
communities. There are people who can not afford to buy food
for themselves and their families because of poverty and
unemployment, and that is their focus, to help them sustain
life. He said that they are lucky that they have the capacity of
doing something to address this concern.
Also, Gemma Tabada, president of the Association of Barangay
Councils (ABC) and punong barangay of Baan Km. 3,
highlighted that their barangay nutrition scholars are doing
their best in monitoring the health and nutrition status
particularly of the children in their area.
She also encouraged the youth to learn to love agriculture,
appreciate backyard gardening, and help the nation in securing
food for all Filipinos.
Meanwhile, Dr. Cassion, Dr. Labordo and the representatives
from other government agencies, civil society organizations,
and guests, led the unveiling of the 2023 National Nutrition
Month logo.
All the participating sectors then expressed their commitment
to support the government and uphold the right of every
Filipino to accessible and affordable nutritious food, and
integrate actions on transforming the food system towards a
healthy diet.
Meanwhile, in the National Capital Region, up to 10,000
individuals and health buffs participated in the 14th Nutri Fun
Run held by the Mandaluyong City Government on Sunday, July
2, to celebrate Nutrition Month and promote healthy living to
the public.
Photo courtesy: Mayor Benjamin Abalos Facebook Page
Mandaluyong City Mayor Ben Abalos led the activity, along
with Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos, Interior and Local
Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, and city officials.
According to the Mandaluyong LGU, the 14th Nutri Fun Run is
part of a series of activities by the city government for the
celebration of their 49th Nutrition Month.
The 3-kilometer run started at 5:00 in the morning from City
Hall to Martinez Street to Fabella Road and back. The purpose
of the activity is to encourage citizens to be active to keep
their bodies healthy.
Mayor Abalos, who is also the head of the City Nutrition
Committee, encouraged participants to have a healthy
lifestyle, by choosing sports or games that they like or enjoy,
or in various sports promoted by the city government such as
boxing, basketball, and various types of martial arts.
It can be recalled that July has been designated as Nutrition
Month in the country via Presidential Decree 491 in 1974 to
create greater awareness on the importance of nutrition.
Making healthy diets more affordable for everyone is important
for a number of reasons. First, eating healthy can help people
maintain a healthy weight and reduce their risk of chronic
diseases like heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Second,
eating healthy can improve cognitive function and boost
energy levels. Third, eating healthy can help people feel better
overall and have more self-esteem.
By making healthy diets within reach, we can help improve the
health and well-being of people all over the Philippines. (JCP -
PIA NCR and JG - PIA CARAGA)
