Over 60 Manobo-Tinananon residents of Sitio Bagtok, Brgy. Tomanding, Arakan, Cotabato Province received free basic services from the various agencies of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on August 25.

The aforementioned barangay was identified as one of the target tribal communities of the third quarter IP health visit of the RIAC team.

Among the participating agencies were DOH, NCIP, DILG, DSWD, PSA, PhilHealth, PopCom and NNC that provided information about the agency’s programs, services, assistance and advocacy that will be given during the IP health visit.

The National Nutrition Council XII as represented by Ms. Ruby Ann Laurito, offered nutrition counseling to pregnant and lactating mothers. The importance of providing optimum nutrition on the First 1000 days of life was emphasized as it will be crucial to the child’s growth and brain development.

The Pinggang Pinoy brochures that can be used as a guide in preparing a balanced and varied diet to meet the energy and nutrient requirements of pregnant and lactating mothers were also discussed.

Moreover, Ms. Laurito provided an overview of the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program, as Brgy. Tomanding is one of the program’s beneficiaries in LGU Arakan covering 13 malnourished 6-23 months old children.

RIAC for IP Health is a regular program of DOH-CHD XII in collaboration with various agencies as one of the government’s efforts to provide better access and utilization of basic services for Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICC/IPs) in accordance with the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2013-01. (DMOIILaurito/NOIIIFlores/RNPCLaquihon)