Since last year, the Department of Agrarian Reform and the National Nutrition Commission have been working together, promoting the feeding program aimed at enhancing the physical and mental being of the people, especially the pregnant and young children in various parts of the country.
THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the National Nutrition Commission (NNC)’s expansion of the latter’s feeding program to march toward freedom from hunger and poverty is gaining more ground with the signing of an agreement betweenthe two agencies.
DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Emily Padilla hailed the latest collaborative efforts between the DAR and the NNC, dubbed as “Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program,” which has included Southwestern Tagalog (MIMAROPA) among its coverage areas.
“This program, which is being pursued through the “Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty” would go a long way in promoting the welfare of pregnant women and of children aged six months to 23 months,” Padilla said.
DAR-MIMAROPA Director Marvin Bernal and NNC- MIMAROPA Regional Coordinator Ma. Eileen Blanco signed the memorandum of understanding at the BSA Twin Towers in Mandaluyong City.
“Tutok Kainan” is NNC’s response to the ill-effects of COVID 19 pandemic to the vulnerable sectors of the society - the pregnant and the children - as provided for under the Republic Act 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act.
It zeroes in on the dietary supplementation program for pregnant women and young children 6-23 months old.
Since last year, DAR and the NNC have been working together, promoting the feeding program aimed at enhancing the physical and mental being of the people, especially the pregnant and young children in various parts of the country.
In the 2018 study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute, it noted the prevalence of stunting among children aged six months to 23 months, 11.5 percent among 0–5-month-olds, 15.5 percent among 6–11-month-olds and 36.6 percent among 12-23 months.
“The initiative has a wide-ranging effect as it also benefits our ARBs for opening up a lot of marketing opportunities for their farm products,” Bernal said.
(SC)
Tags: #DepartmentofAgrarianReform, #NationalNutritionCommission, #feedingprograms, #malnutrition