Nutrition champions and development partners in the Soccsksargen Region, led by National Nutrition Council XII Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Retsebeth Laquihon (3rd from right), discussed the importance of the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action in the region, citing the active involvement of other stakeholders such as the local government units. They also pledged their commitment to supporting the implementation of PPAN to scale up efforts to promote good nutrition in the region. (Photo courtesy of the National Nutrition Council XII)
KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) — The localization of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023–2028 by the different nutrition stakeholders in the region heralds improved cooperation and partnership among key players in Soccsksargen, said Retsebeth Laquihon, regional nutrition program coordinator of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) XII.
She said the implementation of the PPAN at the regional level will center on “attaining the life we want based on the Filipino people’s long-term vision and aspirations—Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na buhay,” as highlighted in Ambisyon Natin 2040.
“The PPAN 2023-2028 is a blueprint for achieving nutrition outcomes that we aspire to see,” Laquihon explained, adding that the government would want “to further improve and see more good results in the quest to achieve a lasting impact on good nutrition.”
The plan, which recognizes the importance of improving behaviors as a factor in nutrition improvement, also places a stronger emphasis on food security.
“Under the PPAN 2023-2028, we aim to promote healthier diets, better practices, and improved access to quality services,” Laquihon told the Philippine Information Agency as she emphasized the role nutrition champions and development partners play in the success of the plan.
Despite Soccsksargen’s milestone during its recent nutrition situation report, Laquihon strongly urged stakeholders and even the local government units to go the extra mile to achieve their desired nutrition outcomes.
The Regional Nutrition Situation disclosed that the data on malnutrition among 0 to 59-month-old children showed improving or decreasing trends of undernutrition, while there were fluctuating trends for overweight and obesity.
For stunting, the prevalence rate decreased from 7.05% in 2021 to 5.1% in 2022 and 3.84% this year. On wasting, the prevalence rate was 2.23% in 2021, 1.5% in 2022, and 0.89% in 2023, while the prevalence rate for underweight was 3.97% in 2021, 2.9% in 2022, and 2.35% in 2023.
On the other hand, the prevalence rate for overweight and obesity in the region was recorded at 0.86% in 2021, 1.62% in 2022, and 1.2% in 2023.
With a 5.54 percent prevalence rate, Sultan Kudarat province has the highest prevalence in the region. Cotabato province comes in second with 4.08%, Sarangani province with 3.20%, General Santos City with 3.13%, and South Cotabato province with 2.88%.
As to underweight, the highest prevalence rate was recorded in Sultan Kudarat at 3.20%, Cotabato at 2.70%, Sarangani at 1.98%, South Cotabato at 1.87%, and General Santos City at 1.67%.
Sultan Kudarat ranked first in the country in terms of the prevalence rate of wasting, with 1.41%, followed by Cotabato (1.03%), General Santos (0.90%), Sarangani (0.59%), and South Cotabato (0.44%).
When it came to overweight and obesity, the highest prevalence rate was recorded in General Santos at 2.13%, Sultan Kudarat at 1.51%, Cotabato at 1.07%, South Cotabato at 0.80%, and Sarangani at 0.67%.
With regard to Electronic Operation Timbang (EOPT) Plus, the 2023 coverage for the region is higher compared to last year, from 74.6% to 85.3%. This indicates that the regional implementation has improved and met the standard EOPT coverage, which is greater than 80%.
With these results, the National Nutrition Council XII vowed to continue its scaling-up efforts in promoting the PPAN to guide nutrition stakeholders in implementing nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific programs.
Ma. Lulu Valencia, chief economic development specialist of the Development Research Division of the National Economic and Development Authority XII, highlighted the integration of the PPAN 2023–2028 into the SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Development Plan 2023–2028. She shared the four strategies to achieve the desired outcome of the plan, which are the promotion of healthy lifestyles and health literacy, strengthening of the barangay nutrition program, implementation of devolved nutrition functions, and sustaining the development and adoption of technology for nutrition-enhanced food products. (Photo courtesy of the National Nutrition Council XII)
In the recent PPAN Dissemination Forum, nutrition champions and development partners also pledged their commitment to the successful implementation of the said plan.
“Nutrition efforts are not only contained in the SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Development Plan, but they are also integrated and localized in various medium-term plans of local government units in the four provinces,” said Ma. Lulu Valencia, chief economic development specialist of the Development Research Division of the National Economic and Development Authority XII.
She emphasized that resolutions were passed reintegrating the PPAN into the RDP 2023–2028 and pursuing nutrition policy reforms in the region.
Meanwhile, Zaldy Boloron, regional technical director for operations and extension of the Department of Agriculture XII, stated that their office implements GATAS, which means Government Action Towards Transformation in Agriculture for Sustainability.
He explained that the program’s approach is holistic to support the implementation of the PPAN, particularly in addressing food insecurity and malnutrition.
One of the important targets in the implementation of the PPAN 2023–2028 is the health of schoolchildren.
“Learners need to be healthy so they can be educated, and learners need to be educated so they can be healthy,” Ma. Lourdes Ines, nutritionist-dietician of the Department of Education XII, said, emphasizing that the school-based health and nutrition programs have already improved over the years with their fortified and nutritious feeding program.
The NNC also provides training support to equip Barangay Nutrition Scholars with skills in the conduct of information, education, and communications (IEC) campaigns in their respective communities. It also partners with PIA 12 to intensify its information drive about the importance of good and balanced nutrition for children to address malnutrition.
It is also beneficial for mothers to introduce exclusive breastfeeding to their children from an early age—from infanthood to at least two years old—to ensure that they are healthy and well-nourished, said Laquihon, emphasizing the importance of breast milk as one of the best sources of good nutrition for children as well as protection against illnesses.
Aside from DA and DepEd, other key players and partners also pledged to be one with the NNC XII in championing the improving nutrition condition of children in Soccsksargen. (SJDM – PIA Region 12)
