DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Jan. 18 (PIA) — The Negros Oriental Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) crafted a resolution institutionalizing a healthy lifestyle program for government employees in the province.
The PNC cited the Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order 2011 – 003 or the National Policy on Strengthening the Prevention and Control of Chronic Lifestyle Related Non-Communicable Disease and the Civil Service (CSC) Memorandum Circular No. 38 s. 1992 as legal basis in coming up with the said resolution.
The move is PNC’s response to the results of the 2021 Expanded National Nutritional Survey conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) in Negros Oriental.
The study revealed that a major factor in the increasing obesity prevalence in the province is the lack of physical activity.
It further showed that three in every 10 individuals or 26.6% are overweight and one in every 10 individuals or 7.4% are obese among 20-59 year-old age group.
Under the resolution, the PNC has recommended every government office to conduct physical activities for one hour every week for its employees preferably from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Pursuant to the said CSC memorandum, government agencies are also enjoined to hold health awareness programs daily for 20 minutes to ensure the wellness and fitness of its personnel.
Employees in the public sector are reminded to follow the “Pinggang Pinoy” guidelines developed by FNRI to meet the proper nutrient requirements of the body.
Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Liland Estacion urged PNC members to take a lead on this once it is approved and carried out by the provincial government.
Estacion added that her office has dedicated personnel who are ready to give orientations on health, nutrition, and fitness to other government agencies as part of the health promotion initiatives of PNC.
The resolution covers the national, provincial, municipal, and department offices in the province and also barangay local chief excecutives and their staff.
The resolution will be forwarded to Sangguniang Panglalawigan for their approval and adoption. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)
