CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — The municipalities of Naic and Rosario in the province of Cavite have been identified by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) CALABARZON as focus areas for this year’s implementation of the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TK-DSP), a national government initiative aimed at addressing malnutrition among vulnerable sectors.
During the Philippine Information Agency’s radio program, NNC Calabarzon Nutrition Officer Theresa Rivas said the two municipalities were selected based on their nutrition situation and their inclusion among the priority areas under the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).
“Ang Cavite province po kasi ay isa sa priority area po ng ating Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition. So within Cavite province, nag-identify po tayo kung ano po ‘yung munisipyo na mas nangangailangan po ng ating suporta—medyo mataas po ‘yung kanilang prevalences po ng malnutrition, in terms of stunting ‘tsaka wasting,” Rivas explained.
She said that the selection process also considered the commitment of local chief executives and the readiness of local government units to support and sustain nutrition interventions in their respective communities.
Under the TK-DSP, nutritionally at-risk pregnant women will receive dietary supplementation for 90 days, while children aged six to 23 months will be provided with food supplementation for 180 days to help meet their nutritional requirements during critical stages of growth and development.
Aside from food supplementation, beneficiaries will also undergo nutrition education sessions and gain access to complementary health and nutrition services.
These interventions aim to improve feeding practices, promote healthy eating habits, and encourage families to make nutritious yet affordable food choices.
“So hindi lang nga po ito dietary supplementation o dagdag na pagkain, kasama din dito yung pagtuturo sa magulang at tagapag-alaga ng tamang pagpapakain, ng wastong paghahanda ng pagkain, breastfeeding, at ng iba pang mga kaalaman na pang-nutrisyon na kailangan po para maalagaan po natin ang atin pong mga kabataan,” Rivas said.
Rivas emphasized that addressing malnutrition requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond food provision. Through nutrition education and strengthened community participation, the program seeks to help families adopt sustainable practices that support the health and development of mothers and children.
The TK-DSP, one of the flagship nutrition interventions of the national government, is designed to reduce stunting, wasting, and other forms of malnutrition through community-based strategies. It also supports the goals of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2023–2028, which aims to improve the nutritional status of Filipinos and contribute to healthier and more productive communities. (ML, AM/PIA CALABARZON)