QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The city government of Pasig signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with local food hub owners on Monday (April 17) to ensure the provision of dietary supplementation among key populations that are at risk of malnutrition.
The initiative is in line with the ‘Karinderya Para sa Healthy Pilipinas’ project of the Department of Health (DOH) and National Nutrition Council (NNC) that aims to improve the local health system through capacitating community-based ‘karinderyas’ as partners for the delivery of food safety.
The MOA signing was facilitated by the City Health Promotion Office (CHPO) under the directive of Dr. Mariane Loe Bringuelo together with City Nutrition Committee (CNC) Action Officer Jenily Capalaran and City Health Office (CHO) Officer Dr. Joseph Panaligan.
The DOH Metro Manila Center for Health Development has witnessed the parties seal the agreement that primarily targets to meet the standard nutritional needs of children under five years, pregnant women, and undernourished lactating mothers.
The signatories include stakeholders from the pilot barangays which comprise of Barangay Maybunga Chairman Arnold Alvarez and ‘Karinderya Owner’ Josefina Calma, Barangay Rosario Chairman Aquilino S. Dela Cruz Sr. together with Barangay Councilor on Health Jaime De Leon and ‘Karinderya Owner’ Melinda Bernal as well as Nutritionist Dietitian Eileen Cruz.
Karinderyas are a source of familiar, affordable, and accessible home cooked meals that essentially generate community patronage. Thus, harnessing its service delivery potential can bring the beneficiaries closer to the program implementation.
The selection of partner karinderyas is determined, among others, by the history of food establishment, duration of service to the community, and the capacity and commitment to provide the entailed services of the nutrition-related activities.
The dietary supplementation intervention is designed to run for 120 days through the funding sourced from the local government.
Aside from building the capacity of partner karinderyas, the program also seeks to impart knowledge on safe and nutritious food preparation among the beneficiaries through routine operations of nutrition and education activities, nutrition counseling, and food demonstrations. (PIA-NCR)
