SALAY, MIS. OR, Jan. 31—the local government is set to implement DOST- PINOY Malnutrition Reduction Porgram as Barangay Health Workers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars finished their 2-day training workshop led by the DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), January 30-31, 2019.

Under DOST PINOY (Package for the Improvement of Nutrition of Young Children), 144 identified malnourished children in Salay aged 6 months to 3 years old will undergo a supplementary feeding program for 120 days (twice a day for 4 months), receiving FNRI-DOST developed complementary food blends  and snack curls. Mothers and guardians will undergo nutrition education on basic nutrition, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, meal planning, safe food handling preparation, and backyard vegetable garden—all in place to free children from malnutrition and equip mothers/caregivers in raising healthy, thriving children.

“It is best to tackle malnutrition because it is the root problem of all underlying issues in the community,” says Dr. Elijah C Mateo, Municipal Health Officer.  

According to FNRI, children who are underweight have slow growth and development, they are sickly, and performing poorly in school.

The DOST-PINOY program, under the Health and Nutrition Enhancement component, is one of the 7 CEST Projects in Salay approved by the Department of Science and Technology Region 10-PSTC Misamis Oriental.  It has an approved budget of Php324,620.00 to purchase DOST-FNRI’s complementary food blends that include Rice-mongo based commodities rich in energy and protein for one cycle program implementation.

The National Economic Development Authority has certified the malnutrition reduction program such as DOST-PINOY in their National Priority Plan.

Salay is the third municipality in Region 10 with a DOST-PINOY program rollout.

“Bihira lang kami nakakakita ng mga LGUs na talagang sumusuporta sa programa ng health and nutrition, kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa Salay sa ipinakita ninyong pagsuporta,” says Ms. Jane Jasmine F Sune of FNRI.
(We rarely see LGUs who are all out in supporting health and nutrition programs, that’s why we are thankful to Salay for their full support)

Mayor Jun also announced that he will increase the honorarium of BHWs and BNS from Php300 to Php500 this year and reminded them that he will closely monitor the progress of the program. Mayor Jun said the LGU is willing to counterpart from its own funds to reach more children in the locality, especially if there are still cases of malnutrition.

The LGU aims to raise a healthy citizenry by supporting programs that promote the health and well being of its people. It remains on top of the agenda of the Local Chief Executive’s administration knowing that a healthy citizenry is the community’s greatest asset towards productivity and economic development.