Taguig’s nutrition programs recognized

MANILA, Philippines - The various nutrition programs of the Taguig City government have gained the highest recognition from the Philippine Association of Nutrition (PAN).

For this year, the Taguig City government was given by PAN the prestigious “Pabasa sa Nutrisyon Hall of Fame” award.

The “Pabasa sa Nutrisyon” is an innovative approach in strengthening the implementation of the five Impact Programs of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition. These includes home, school and community food production, micronutrient supplementation, food fortification, nutrition education and food assistance.

The program is an information-sharing type of activity that targets breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women and mothers of malnourished children to teach them the proper selection and preparation of food served to families that are both affordable and nutritious. This initiative controls and lessens cases of malnutrition down to the barangay level. 

The “Pabasa sa Nutrisyon Hall of Fame” award is given to government and non-government organizations that have already received the “Pabasa sa Nutrisyon Exemplary Award” and have maintained an efficient implementation of the program for four consecutive years. 

"We are again proud of this award. It is not everyday that we do get to honor our people for the exemplary job that they do for their fellow Taguigenos," Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano said.

"The city of Taguig will continue to advocate good and proper nutrition for the benefit of our constituents. This award is a testament that we have fulfilled our goal of fighting malnutrition, which affects mostly our mothers and young kids," the mayor added.  

Last year, Taguig City managed to lower the city’s malnutrition rate to 0.88 percent as compared to 1.38 percent for the previous year. For this feat, the Taguig City government received the Green Banner award from the National Nutrition Council-National Capital Region.

The Green Banner award is the highest honor conferred to a local government unit for its exemplary implementation and management of nutrition programs. 

“The education that we impart to our constituents is to ensure that those benefiting from our nutrition program will continue to receive the proper nourishment,” Cayetano said.

Founded on March 9, 1947, PAN’s mission is to increase national understanding of the country’s nutrition situation and promote action and measures for the nutritional improvement of families, communities and the country as a whole.

PAN organized into a single body all those who believed early on, in the multidisciplinary approach to nutrition.