BACOLOD City – In line with the 51st Nutrition Month celebration, the city government here will launch a feeding program targeting undernourished children, beginning August 1.
Implemented through the Bacolod City Nutrition Committee (BCNC), the program is part of the city’s efforts to combat child malnutrition and will run for 150 days. It aims to provide proper nutrition to help identified children recover from undernourishment.
According to Lora Maria Teresa Clarin, City Nutrition Program Coordinator, the city has profiled nearly 43,000 children aged 0 to 5 years. From this, around 874 were found to be undernourished.
Clarin stressed that while the city is providing support, the success of the program heavily depends on the cooperation of the children’s families.
“Even if the city provides feeding support, it won’t be enough without the involvement of the households,” she said. “The government can only do so much. Families must take part in nourishing their children.”
She explained that each meal from the city provides only 200 to 400 calories, while children in this age group require about 1,600 to 2,000 calories daily. The rest must be met through meals provided at home.
Clarin also emphasized that addressing malnutrition goes beyond food intake. Proper hygiene and sanitation are equally important in promoting children’s health and development.
As part of the Nutrition Month activities, 60 children from various day care centers, along with their parents or guardians, joined a tour at the City Agriculture Compound on July 22. The activity, organized by the BCNC in collaboration with the City Agriculture Office (CAO) and the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), aimed to raise awareness of the importance of food production and nutrition.
During the visit, the participants experienced harvesting vegetables, catching fish, and feeding animals. An orientation on proper nutrition was also conducted, teaching parents about “go, grow, and glow” foods and how to provide balanced meals at home.
The month-long celebration is anchored on Presidential Decree No. 491, series of 1974, also known as the Nutrition Act of the Philippines. This year’s theme is “Sa PPAN (Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition): Sama-sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat,” with the subtheme: “Food at Nutrisyon Security, Maging Priority! Sapat na Pagkain, Karapatan Natin!”
The BCNC is also promoting the “Gulayan sa Barangay” initiative, encouraging all 61 barangays to establish vegetable gardens. These gardens are expected to supplement the feeding program and benefit the broader community as well./PN
