CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro -- In a bid to address the issue of child stunting linked to malnutrition, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office MIMAROPA held the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) Municipal Orientation in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday, March 14.

According to the Provincial DOH Representative Julie Christine Bandiola, evidence showed that achieving the goal of reducing stunting and malnutrition requires a multifaceted strategy that includes scaling up effective nutrition-specific interventions and enhancing nutrition-sensitive interventions across diverse sectors.

ogether with DSWD, the PMNP will leverage the KALAHI-CIDSS Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach to elevate the voices of communities, especially the mothers, and engage them actively in nutrition governance and the development of barangay and municipal nutrition action plans.

“Masayang-masaya po tayo na mayroong ganitong programa na alam nating makakatulong sa ating bayan. Gusto kong iparating na ang ating bayan ay hundred percent [na] sumusuporta sa programa ng ating pamahalaan,” Municipal Mayor Ernesto C. Pablo, Jr., affirmed his support for PMNP.

DSWD MIMAROPA, Provincial DOH, and LGU of Rizal recognize the need for a concerted effort to combat child stunting, especially in vulnerable communities. The multisectoral approach will involve various stakeholders, including local government units, non-government organizations, and the private sector, to ensure a comprehensive and sustained effort in addressing the issue.

Furthermore, Vice Mayor Marcelino dela Cruz, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, and Barangay Chairpersons in the Municipality of Rizal attended the orientation and expressed their support and gratefulness for the project.

The said event marks the first municipal orientation of PMNP in the region, with plans to conduct the same for the remaining 13 municipalities.

PMNP is a multisectoral convergence program that aims to improve the nutritional status of women, infants, and young children in selected areas of the Philippines, Specifically, the project aims to reduce the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children under five years old. It seeks to improve the delivery of basic nutrition and health services, strengthen local government capacity for nutrition programming, and promote behavior change in households and communities to adopt better nutrition practices. Ultimately, the project aims to contribute to the achievement of the Philippine government’s goal of reducing malnutrition and improving the health and well-being of its citizens. (DSWD MIMAROPA)