Capitol to feed, give vitamins to 285,000 children, mothers

Local

OVER 285,000 mothers and young children across Cebu are set to receive direct nutrition support as the provincial government rolls out its first centrally managed feeding and supplementation program.

The Cebu Provincial Health Office (PHO) has launched a province-funded initiative covering about 160,000 children aged six to 23 months and 125,000 pregnant women, shifting implementation from localized feeding efforts to a centralized system led by the province.

PHO chief Dr. Sheila Faciol said the program marks the first time the province is directly managing feeding activities for the identified beneficiaries.

"This is the first time na mag-feeding program ta sa kato nga mga beneficiaries," she said.

Children will receive ready-to-eat nutritious food packs for 120 days under a P6.4 million allocation, while pregnant women will be provided milk supplementation for 90 days under a separate P6.25 million fund.

Faciol said beneficiaries were identified through nutrition data collected by Rural Health Units under the government’s Operation Timbang program.

"Naa man tay report from our LGUs so from there diha ta mokuha sa mga beneficiaries," she said.

She added that implementation is still being prepared as procurement processes are underway.

"We are looking into starting pa ani kay this needs to be procured pa. Pero we already have the report from RHUs. We based it on their Operation Timbang," Faciol said.

The children’s food package includes rice monggo, nutribun, and chicken macaroni soup intended to address nutritional gaps during early development stages.

The inclusion of pregnant women, Faciol said, is aimed at preventing malnutrition before birth.

"Actually maong naa tay pregnant women pud because sugdan

sa pregnancy kay kung dili maayo ang nutrition sa mother, inig gawas sa baby kay undernourished," she said.

PHO monitoring data for 2025 showed continued improvement in Cebu’s nutrition indicators. Underweight prevalence dropped to 3.11 percent or 8,672 children, while wasting declined to 1.13 percent or 3,142 children.

Stunting remains the province’s main concern but also showed improvement, falling to 7.39 percent or 20,659 children from 10.50 percent in 2022.

Overweight and obesity cases also decreased to 2.11 percent or 5,910 children.

Faciol said the province expects to build on these gains through the new program.

"Helpful jud siya because nutrition man siya and it aligns with thrust ni Governor," she said.

In Central Visayas, government agencies have also launched preparations for Nutrition Month with a broader focus on climate change and environmental protection as key drivers of food security.

The National Nutrition Council-n Central Visayas led the regional launch of the 52nd Nutrition Month observance, anchored on the theme “Nutrisyon at Kalikasan, Ating Pangalagaan!”

Officials said the campaign emphasizes how environmental conditions and climate-related disruptions directly affect food systems and nutrition outcomes.

Dr. Niño Archie S. Labordo, regional nutrition program coordinator, said nutrition challenges persist year-round and are shaped by environmental realities.

“We are calling that we shape the importance of the environment… because doon tayo kumukuha, humuhugot ng pagkain para magkaroon ng healthy na pangangatawan,” he said.

He added that disruptions in food systems affect household food access.

“Secondly, we also need to protect and strengthen the food systems because if there is a disruption of our food system, walang mapupunta or accessibility or availability of food to our table or the family table,” he said.

The Department of Health-Central Visayas expressed support for the initiative, noting that nutrition outcomes are closely tied to environmental conditions affecting food supply systems.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Central Visayas also underscored the role of ecosystems in sustaining agriculture and fisheries.

Environment official Joan Joyce Rosana Canoy-Calleno raised concerns on environmental practices in some upland areas, including improper tree planting methods.

She also emphasized the need for proper monitoring of reforestation efforts, including survival rates of planted trees, and urged stronger soil protection practices through organic fertilization.

Regional data presented during the briefing showed continuing malnutrition challenges in Central Visayas, with underweight prevalence at 16.6 percent, stunting at 22.7 percent, and wasting at 4.6 percent.

Cebu surveillance data showed stunting and severe stunting affecting about 7.41 percent or more than 20,000 children.

Officials said climate change is increasingly affecting nutrition by reducing agricultural output and lowering nutrient content in staple crops such as iron and zinc.

The 2026 Nutrition Month campaign is anchored on the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2023–2028, integrating climate and nutrition goals under a whole-of-society framework.

Planned activities include promotion of balanced diets using Pinggang Pinoy, reduction of food waste, establishment of community and school gardens, and strengthened infant and young child feeding practices.

Government agencies, LGUs, schools, and partner organizations are expected to participate in month-long coordinated activities, with consolidated reports due by Aug. 18.(MyTVCebu)