KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- The National Nutrition Council XII urges local government units in the region to support the ongoing implementation of the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program in identified municipalities and cities in the provinces of Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

During the recent PIA Talakayang Dose radio program, Retsebeth Laquihon, regional nutrition program coordinator, emphasized the importance of partnership with local government units to address issues of malnutrition.

“With the support ng ating mga local government units, ng ating mga local chief executives, and barangay captains ay inaasahan po namin na magiging successful ang implementation ng Tutok Kainan para ma-address ang malnutrition,” Laquihon said.

The program aims to fight malnutrition through supplemental feeding for six- to 23-month-old children.

In Cotabato Province, the program is being implemented in the municipalities of Carmen, Matalam, Antipas, Makilala, President Roxas, Tulunan, Libungan, Aleosan, Midsayap, and Arakan, as well as in Kidapawan City. Meanwhile, in Sultan Kudarat, beneficiary areas of the Tutok Kainan are the Bagumbayan, Lambayong, Isulan, Senator Ninoy Aquino, and Lutayan, as well as Tacurong City.

These areas, according to Laquihon, are identified as priority areas where the most nutritionally at-risk and undernourished children are recorded. She added that the program will run for 180 calendar days.

Aside from the children, the program also aims to provide additional food to pregnant women for 90 calendar days to ensure delivery of complementary care and development services in the first 1,000 days of a child pursuant to RA 11148. (PIA Cotabato)