Healthy diet underscored in Tacloban's Nutrition Month kick off activity

TACLOBAN CITY, July 5 -- With the theme “Healthy Diet, Gawing Habit for Life,” this year’s celebration of the National Nutrition Month kicked off in Tacloban City today, Wednesday, at the City Engineering gymnasium.

Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr. regional nutrition program coordinator for National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Region 8, said that eating in moderation the three key food groups boosts the immune system and adds more years to one's life.

“We should not only be concerned of the quality, nutritious but also safe food. Eating healthy and being fit should not only be an individual advocacy but also a global advocacy,” Dotollo said in his speech.

The NNC leads the observance of the National Nutrition Month, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 491, the Nutrition Act of the Philippines.

Dotollo said the agency has a lot of programs to contribute to the achievement of the country's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN). The PPAN is the country’s response to nutrition situation and provides the framework for improving the nutritional status of Filipinos.

According to Datollo, the different local government units and their local nutrition committees in Eastern Visayas launched the National Nutrition Month and campaign for healthy meals in the community. They also have Nutri-Food Bazaar like the one set-up in Balyuan Grounds, Tacloban City.

Felecita Borata, regional dietician and nutritionist of the Department of Health (DOH), said that eating healthy meals will reduce malnutrition and non-communicable diseases.

She said healthy diet should be safe from bacteria and other contamination. Each individual’s needs should be addressed like those of pregnant and nursing women, elderly and babies. Having nutrition options will lessen obesity and under-nourishment.

“Your food should have less salt, sugar and oil,” Borata said.

The NNC also encouraged backyard gardening and promotes eating of fruits and vegetables.

Pinky Horca, city hall official who represented Mayor Cristina Romualdez, said that the city has sustained the program of being fit by holding zumba sessions in city hall grounds and in the Tacloban Astrodome grounds which is open to the public.

Eating nutritious food is an advocacy of Mayor Romualdez and she encouraged everyone to eat healthy food and be fit.

The activity also aims to promote the “10 Kumainments” and “Pinggang Pinoy” programs, as well as pushes strict implementation of Department of Education Order No. 8 series 2017 entitled “Revised Implementing Guidelines on the Operation and Management of School Canteens in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools” that bans selling of junk food and soft drinks in school canteens. (Vicky C. Arnaiz/PNA)