15/06/2026
Provincial Nutrition Committee Strengthens Nutrition Initiatives, Unveils Nutrition Month 2026 Activities
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC), together with members of its Technical Working Group and City and Municipal Nutrition Action Officers, gathered last June 11, 2026, at King Square Davidson, Tabuk City, for the Provincial Nutrition Committee Meeting aimed at strengthening nutrition programs and advancing the province's goal of becoming free from malnutrition.
The meeting was led by the Office of the Provincial Health Office (OPHO) through Ms. Kristal Gail Dacio, Provincial Nutrition Program Coordinator, who presented the proposed activities for the celebration of Nutrition Month 2026 anchored on the national theme, “Sama-sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat,” and the provincial sub-theme, “Nutrisyon at Kalikasan, Ating Pangalagaan.”
The proposed activities highlight the province’s commitment to promoting proper nutrition, healthy lifestyles, environmental stewardship, and community participation. Among the featured activities are various nutrition-themed contests designed to engage different sectors of society.
For contests with online voting, elementary pupils will showcase their creativity through the Nutri-Healthy Food Jingle or Poem Recitation Contest, while junior high school students will compete in the Nutri-Spoken Poetry Contest. Senior high school students will demonstrate their artistic talents in the Nutri-Poster Making Contest, and senior citizens will participate in the Nutri-Zumba Dance Competition.
Meanwhile, contests without online voting include the Nutri-School or Barangay Garden Contest for schools and communities and the Nutri-Infographics Battle for college students and professionals.
On-site competitions will feature the Nutri-Poster Making Contest for Amateurs, the Nutri-Search for the Most Nutritious Snack Product, and the Nutri-Search for the Most Nutritious Beverage Product, both open to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to encourage innovation in producing healthy and nutritious local food products.
The committee also received presentations on the status of planned nutrition-related activities for 2026 from various partner agencies, including the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVET), Office of the Provincial Disability and Development Coordinator (OPDDC), Sustainable Livelihood Program–SWAD, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), and the Office of the Provincial Health Office (OPHO).
As part of the meeting, Ms. Dacio also led the advocacy discussion on various nutrition-related policies that serve as the foundation of nutrition and food security initiatives in the country. Among these were the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023–2028, the country’s blueprint for reducing all forms of malnutrition; Republic Act No. 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act; and Republic Act No. 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, which strengthens interventions during the First 1,000 Days of Life.
The discussion also highlighted policies supporting breastfeeding and infant nutrition, including Executive Order No. 51 or the Milk Code of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009, and Republic Act No. 7600 or the Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992.
To address micronutrient deficiencies, the committee emphasized the importance of Republic Act No. 8976, the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000, and Republic Act No. 8172, commonly known as the ASIN Law, which promotes universal salt iodization nationwide.
The advocacy session further underscored the significance of healthy diet and lifestyle initiatives such as the Department of Health’s National Policy on Healthy Diet, Pinggang Pinoy, and the Ten Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos, all of which provide practical guidance in achieving balanced nutrition and healthier living.
The Provincial Nutrition Committee remains steadfast in its mission of achieving a malnutrition-free Kalinga through collaborative action, policy advocacy, and community participation. Through the collective efforts of government agencies, local government units, schools, communities, and development partners, the province continues to advance programs that ensure every Kalinga family has access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food.
As Nutrition Month 2026 approaches, the Province of Kalinga calls on all sectors to take part in the celebration and join the movement toward a healthier and more nourished future for all.
“Sama-sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat.”