PBBM delivers SONA promise on Agusan Norte nutrition security
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) —The provincial government of Agusan del Norte recently reported a significant decline in malnutrition cases, supporting the national goals on nutrition security as emphasized by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr (PBBM).
In his 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA), Pres. Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of a child’s first 1,000 days, the most critical stage of development. He proposed a new grant under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for pregnant women and children up to two years old from the poorest households, ensuring access to medical care, immunization, and proper nutrition. He also mandated the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to integrate healthcare and nutrition indicators into the Seal of Good Local Governance, urging local governments to prioritize nutrition in their policies and performance metrics.
The province, under the leadership of Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante, is taking bold steps to address malnutrition through community-based interventions, strengthened partnerships, and evidence-based program delivery.
“Our united front reflects our shared goal to uplift the nutritional well-being of every Agusanon,” said Dr. Silver Joy Tejano, provincial nutrition action officer (PNAO) and chief of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO). She acknowledged the invaluable technical support of the Caraga Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET), led by Leah Vina P. Vargas of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Caraga, during the recent Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation Protocol (MELLPI Pro).
The province’s intensified nutrition efforts are producing tangible results such as the data from the Operation Timbang Plus for children aged 0-59 months, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children declined from 2.96 percent in 2022 to 1.49 percent in 2023, and further continued the decline to 0.91 percent in 2024, a clear indicator of the impact of the province’s responsive programs.
For the underweight/severely underweight children in the province, data also showed decreasing cases from 3.80 percent in 2022 to 2.30 percent in 2023, and 2.00 percent in 2024.
For wasting/severe wasting, for year 2022, it had 1.50 percent; 2023 with 0.50 percent and for 2024 with only 0.40 percent, and for the stunting/severe stunting cases, it recorded a 7.20 percent in 2022, 4.40 percent in 2023 and 3.30 percent in 2024.
Provincial Nutrition Coordinator Emelyn Flor L. Fabiaña, awarded as the Regional Outstanding District Nutrition Program Coordinator, attributed this success to the active collaboration among Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) members. She called for continued dedication, urging members to submit updated plans and accomplishments to integrate into the province’s unified nutrition action framework.
To ensure strategic alignment, the PNC convened to recalibrate its priorities and boost the implementation of municipal-level programs. The meeting reaffirmed the province’s vision of eradicating malnutrition and building healthier communities.
As part of the 51st Nutrition Month celebration, the province held a kickoff ceremony at the Capitol lobby in Butuan City with the theme “Food and Nutrition Security, Maging Priority! Sapat na Pagkain, Karapatan Natin!,” a call to make food and nutrition a national priority.
“Access to adequate and nutritious food is not a privilege, but a basic human right,” stressed Provincial Administrator Elizabeth Marie R. Calo. “Malnutrition prevents people from reaching their full potential and fuels the cycle of poverty. We must act collectively to ensure that every Filipino, especially the most vulnerable, has consistent access to healthy and sufficient food.”
Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Niño Archie S. Labordo of NNC Caraga praised the province’s ongoing gains, noting that “Good nutrition is the foundation of a healthy, resilient, and productive society.”
With a strong policy direction, empowered local leadership, and engaged stakeholders, Agusan del Norte is steadily advancing toward its goal of zero malnutrition and food-secure communities. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)