ILOILO – The provincial government is launching an intensified campaign for food and nutrition security as it kicks off the 2025 Nutrition Month celebration this Monday, July 7, with a renewed focus on reducing malnutrition among children and promoting healthy lifestyle practices among Ilonggos.
Anchored on the theme “Sa PPAN: Sama-Sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat!” and the subtheme “Food at Nutrition Security, Maging Priority! Sapat na Pagkain, Karapatan Natin!”, the provincial celebration will commence with a Zumba session and a “Healthy Salad Sale” at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Lobby following the flag-raising ceremony.
Led by the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) and the Provincial Nutrition Committee, the event will also feature the ceremonial oath-taking of the new officers of the Provincial Nutrition Volunteers of Iloilo, Inc. (2025–2026), as well as messages from key officials including IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region 6 OIC Sheryl Sedantes, Vice Gov. Nathalie Ann Debuque, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., and keynote speaker Hector Mallo of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture.
To complement the advocacy for nutritious diets, a ceremonial opening of the KADIWA Pop-Up Stores will also be held at the Capitol Grounds Walkway, offering fresh produce and local food items to promote healthy consumption.
The province’s efforts appear to be paying off. According to IPHO data, Iloilo’s nutritional status has significantly improved over the last three years:
* Underweight prevalence dropped from 2.98% in 2021 to 2.44% in 2023
* Wasting decreased from 1.58% to 1.11%
* Stunting fell from 7.46% to 4.84%
* Overweight cases declined from 3.15% to 2.26%
“These consistent reductions in malnutrition indicators are a result of our province-wide, integrated strategies,” said Provincial Health Officer I, Dr. Wendel Tupas-Marcelo.
Marcelo highlighted the implementation of the “ART RESPONSE” framework as central to the gains in nutrition. The acronym stands for:
* A – Adequate Food Production
* R – Rehabilitation of Malnutrition
* T – Training and Capacity Building of Nutrition Workers
* R – Reactivated Nutrition Committees
* E – Education for Nutritional and Behavioral Change
* S – Social Marketing for Nutrition Support
* P – People Empowerment
* O – Outstanding Program Implementation
* N – Networking and Linkages
* S – Scaling Up Nutrition
* E – Emergency Response
With coordinated efforts among local government units, national agencies, NGOs, private sectors, and community volunteers, Iloilo continues to move closer to achieving its goal of ensuring every Ilonggo has access to nutritious food and lives a healthy life./PN