BACOLOD City – The city government has intensified its fight against unhealthy eating habits among children in this city with the launch of its aggressive campaign to encourage children to choose nutritious food over fast food.
Mayor Greg Gasataya challenged the Urban Basic Services Division (UBSD) and the City Health Office (CHO) to develop a campaign that will appeal to young people.
“We could probably launch a competition, may it be online, that would encourage kids to go back to basics, to things that help develop and nurture the younger generation,” Gasataya said during the August 4 culmination of the city’s 51st Nutrition Month celebration at the Bacolod City Government Center.
He emphasized the need for strategic marketing to promote nutrition as a lifestyle, especially among school-aged children.
During the program, the city also recognized outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and celebrated best practices in promoting healthy living, including winners of the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program.
Vice Mayor Claudio Puentevella, for his part, thanked the UBSD, CHO and BNS for their dedication to improving the health of Bacolod’s children.
Meanwhile, according to Lora Maria Teresa Clarin, UBSD head and concurrent city nutrition program coordinator, of the almost 43,000 children aged zero to five years old they have profiled, around 874 were undernourished.
Clarin said they will implement a feeding program for 150 days as part of the initiative of the city government to provide proper nutrition for children to recover from malnutrition.
She further highlighted the importance of collaboration in achieving the goals of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).
“It takes a village to raise a child,” Clarin said, emphasizing the need for a community-based approach to children’s nutrition./PN
