In Budlaan: Mothers get credit line to combat malnutrition

CEBU, Philippines — To fight malnutrition in their community, the Barangay Nutrition Committee of Barangay Budlaan, Cebu City has implemented the Micro Finance Assistance Project for mothers.

The project aims to support women who have malnourished children to avail of microfinance at a minimum of P2,000, which is payable in one year, and is free of interest.

“This is to encourage and help women with malnourished children in the barangay to invest into small businesses to earn additional income and increase their capacity to buy nutritious foods for their children,” said the National Nutrition Council-7 in a statement.

Starting off with a seed capital of P56,000 from the Zonta Club 1, the project has been sustained for the last six years.

During the period, the beneficiaries of this project became small sari-sari store owners, barbeque and other food stall merchandisers, or small business holders in the barangay.

The Budlaan Nutrition Committee with technical assistance from the Cebu City Nutrition Committee has been working with the mothers’ group in this microfinancing strategy to help ensure healthy balance sheets to make their small enterprises thrive.

“With the additional income for the household, women can now afford better quality food for their families, preventing hunger and malnutrition,” NNC-7 added.

In Cebu City, there are 2,888 children that are considered malnourished, according to the Operation Timbang Plus 2022 Report of the Cebu City Nutrition Council.