LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) – The challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the series of typhoons in the previous years never hindered Tabaco City from sucessfully implementing its programs on health and nutrition, Mayor Krisel Luistro-Lagman said. 

“Even during the pandemic, Tabaco City was able to help our children recover from malnutrition. We have strong nutrition programs and we have our fresh produce to support this programs,” Lagman said in the Network Briefing News program of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

She shared that the best tasting sweet potato or kamote from San Miguel Island is one of the staple components of the dietary supplementation program for children, pregnant and lactating mothers that they are implementing.

“Our special focus is on stunting since it is irreversible after two years. We have to address this as early as the mother's pregnancy stage” Luistro said.

The city government is also in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to produce their own kamote, monggo and rice-based nutritious snacks instead of buying instant foods.

“Our Kamote Production Center in San Miguel Island has resumed its operation for the production of flour for pastries, as staple ingredient for our nutrition programs,” she said.

The LGU has likewise deployed two nutritionists to assist in the nutrition program and to render nutrition counseling and sessions, as component to ensure good nutrition practices at homes and in the communities.

Vaccination rollout

She also said Tabaco City is one of the first LGUs in Albay to reach more than 70% vaccination rate during the three-day national vaccination drive.

“We have over 87% vaccination rate. The last mile is hard but our health workers are persistent. We are targeting to vaccinate 90% or more by Valentine’s Day,” Luistro said.

“We have active COVID cases now but we monitor not only the numbers but the severity of the cases as well. Based on the latest report, 95% of our cases are mild,” she added.

The city government also employs creative ways to entice residents to avail of free vaccines.

“We use infographics, jingles to encourage them to be vaccinated,” Luistro added.

For upland and island barangays, Luistro said the four-quadrant approach is being used wherein each quadrant has a doctor and lying-in clinic operating 24 hours daily.

“In the uplands, we do house-to-house approach. Out of all the five islands in San Miguel, four have already recorded  70 -80% vaccination rate but the remaining barangay is only at 27%,” Luistro said.

The Network Briefing News is a program of the PCOO, in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency and other attached agencies to showcase best practices and programs of LGUs, SK officials and youth development partners in the country.(SAA/PIA5/Albay)