27 November 2020, Cagayan de Oro City — The National Nutrition Council (NNC) conducted the virtual Soft Launch of the Tutok Kainan: Supplementation Program last 23 November 2020. The event was attended both onsite and virtually by various participants coming from government and private agencies which includes Local Chief Executives (LCE) and other local officials, Nutrition Actions Officers (NAOs), Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs), representatives from partner agencies, recipient pregnant women, among others. Onsite Soft Launch was held at the NNC Office, Taguig City with simultaneous virtual broadcast via Zoom and Facebook Live.

Realization of the Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program was made possible through NNC Executive Director Azucena M. Dayanghirang and the entire agency’s collaboration with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Zero Hunger chaired by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles. The program operationalizes the Republic Act 11148 also known as Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, which focuses on securing proper nutrition of those covered during the First 1000 Days (F1K) of life through the dietary supplementation of pregnant women and young children 6-23 months old. The First 1000 Days, also called the “golden window of opportunity” is the period when lifelong growth and development are established. F1K is one of the strategic thrusts of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022. The program is envisioned to resolve the country’s persistent problem on stunting, which also affects the child’s overall health, cognitive development and productivity. This program also serves as NNC’s response to mitigating malnutrition problems, especially at this time of the pandemic.

This year, the program will concentrate on the dietary supplementation of nutritionally at-risk pregnant women through provision of age and culturally acceptable and locally available food commodities such as Enhanced Nutribun, ready-to-eat lipid-based nutritional supplement and hot meals for 90 days. By 2021, the program is projected to include malnourished children 6-23 months old through provision of nutritious complementary foods.

Tutok Kainan will be implemented in the select Human Development and Poverty Reduction (HDPR) Priority provinces and typhoon affected areas. Criteria in selecting HDPR areas include prevalence and magnitude of stunting, poverty incidence, and teenage pregnancy. Having been identified as one of the HDPR areas, this will be implemented in the Province of Bukidnon, which will cater about 3800 pregnant women coming from the eight (8) identified recipient Local Government Units (LGUs), namely, the cities of Valencia and Malaybalay, and the municipalities of Kadingilan, Kibawe, Libona, Manolo Fortich, Quezon and Sumilao.

Stunting prevalence in Bukidnon continues to be of high severity. Based on the 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), 35.1% or about 4 in every 10 children aged 0-59 months are stunted. This data is considered significantly higher compared to the 28.8% stunting prevalence of the Philippines during the same period. This prevalence is indeed alarming as the PPAN 2017-2022 target of reducing stunting prevalence to 21.4% by the end of 2022 is still 13.7% away for Bukidnon Province. Various nutrition efforts, programs and activities need to be done to still hit the target stunting reduction by the end of 2022.

With this result, Tutok Kainan is anticipated to alleviate stunting and other forms of malnutrition in the province of Bukidnon. During the Tutok Kainan soft launch, Dr. Gary Guido Tabios, the acting Provincial Nutrition Action Officer of the province of Bukidnon thanked NNC for identifying Bukidnon as one of the recipient provinces. Furthermore, he guaranteed the province’s full commitment and support in the program implementation and in allocating funds for nutrition programs under the First 1000 days.

To date, constant coordination and program preparations were done between NNC, recipient LGUs and possible suppliers. Masterlists of pregnant women are being finalized and processes for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding are ongoing. Program implementation is estimated to begin by December 2020.

With the full support and continued commitment of the recipient LGUs, Tutok Kainan along with other nutrition and health programs will pave the way towards a next generation of taller, smarter and more productive Juans! (PNC Stephanie C. Barrio)