August 1, 2023 – In its 49th year, the Regional Nutrition Month Culminating Activity took center stage at the Bacolod City Government Center Lobby yesterday.
Graced by notable people in the field of Nutrition; Mayor and CNC Chair Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Councilor and CNC Vice Chair Claudio Jesus Raymundo Puentevella, Regional Director of the Commission on Population and Development – Region VI Harold Alfred Marshall, OIC – Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator of the National Nutrition Council Region VI Sheryl Sedantes, Dr. Rosalie Deocampo, City Nutrition Action Officer, Lora Maria Teresa Clarin, City Nutrition Program Coordinator, Regional and City Nutrition Committees and Members led by the Department of Interior and Local Government Region VI, Bacolod City Barangay Captains, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Barangay Health Workers and other nutrition champions.
Sheryl Sedantes, OIC-Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator, delivered a compelling presentation on this year’s Nutrition Month theme, “HEALTHY DIET gawing affordable FOR ALL!” underlining the significance of nationwide laws, policies, and programs supporting healthy diets.
Sedantes emphasized the need for sustainable, accessible, and safe healthy diets through nutrition-sensitive initiatives like the “HAPAG (Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay) sa Barangay Project” community and backyard gardening to address food insecurity and promote the availability of organic food within communities.
The Nutrition Month Regional Culminating Activity was not only an informative affair but also a fun-filled event that included engaging contests; among them were the Baby Crawling Contest Year 2 emphasizing the importance of the First 1000 Day especially Exclusive Breastfeeding, and the Synchronized Nutri-Zumba Year 3, adding an element of excitement to the celebration, where participants in the event hailed from various barangays across the city, fostering a sense of community and collaboration in promoting nutrition awareness and healthy lifestyle practices. Championing this year’s Synchronized Nutri-Zumba is Barangay Tangub Frontline Workers.
For the whole of July, various activities were initiated by the City Nutrition Committees with joint Nutrition Caravan with DRRMO, Basic Nutrition in Emergencies Orientation among BNSes, “May Ara Binhi sa Basura-MABB” Urban Gardening Seminar in partnership with DPS-IPM Trash to Cash Program and City Agriculture, Fruit Tree Planting Activity, Nutrisyon Merkado Day, Nutrition on Air and Social Media Promotion, Nutrition in Emergencies during the DRRMO Summit, and various Nutrition Month Launches and Advocacies in the barangays, schools and day care centers.
With the active involvement of local government units, community organizations, and health advocates, the event aimed to create lasting impacts in encouraging the adoption of affordable and nutritious diets for the overall well-being of the city’s residents.
(Source: Bacolod City Public Information Office)
