CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (August 4, 2025) — The National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Northern Mindanao has called on its government and private sector partners, along with other stakeholders in the region, to continue implementing nutrition-related initiatives beyond the annual National Nutrition Month observance held every July

During the Regional Nutrition Month Culmination Program, NNC Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator and Officer-in-Charge Reginaldo T. Guillen emphasized the importance of sustaining nutrition efforts at the community level.

“Gusto natin makita na [ang ating advocacy] ay nagpapatuloy pa rin lagpas sa buwan ng Hulyo. Atong hangyo nga ang atong mga communities, local government units (LGUs), and even our regional line agencies, would be able to contribute to readily accessible and nutritious food,” Guillen said.

(We want to see this advocacy being promoted beyond the month of July. We request that the communities, local government units, and even our regional line agencies contribute to readily accessible and nutritious food.)

Guillen also led the launch of the 2025 Search for the Best Garden for Go, Grow, and Glow (G4) for LGUs and households. Initiated in 2024, the G4 project is a program of the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) that promotes household and community gardening to support food availability and improve nutrition outcomes.

For the 2025 cycle, seven LGUs will take part in the G4 Search: the cities of Valencia and Malaybalay, and Quezon town in Bukidnon; the cities of Gingoog and El Salvador, and Sugbongcogon town in Misamis Oriental; and Cagayan de Oro City.

DOH Assistant Regional Director Raymond G. Dela Cruz underscored the need to sustain household-level implementation of nutrition programs.

“Let’s continue to advocate for the Search, and especially for any activities that will ensure nga naa gyud food and nutrition security at the household level. [Importante] gyud ang implementation at the household level, kay dira gyud nagsugod ang pag-ensure nga ang atong stunting and also underweight ma-reduce gyud,” Dela Cruz said.

(Let’s continue to advocate for the Search, and especially for activities that ensure food and nutrition security at the household level. Implementation at the household level is very important because that’s where we begin to ensure we can truly reduce stunting and underweight.)

NNC also implemented additional initiatives to promote nutrition awareness and action in the region. These included the Budget Meal Collage Challenge, which promoted the use of local and homegrown ingredients in meal preparation, and the Make It Reel video contest, which highlighted local stories and practices in nutrition program implementation.

The Cagayan de Oro City Nutrition Committee won the collage challenge with the entry Savory Beans and Sayote Stir-fry, created by City Nutrition Program Coordinator Sherill Espanola and co-presented by Angelique Maggay.

“This recipe wasn’t just created for the contest,” Maggay said. “As mama nga permi gusto nga healthy and nutritious ang pagkaon sa bata, mao na siya nga na-come up jud to siya nga recipe.”

(As a mom who always wants healthy and nutritious food for her child, that’s really how the recipe came about.)

She added, “Atong gina-advocate man gyud ang first 1,000 days [sa bata], so as a mom, always gyud nato ginainsure ang healthy and nutritious meal which will support their immune system para stronger sila.”

(We strongly advocate for the baby’s first 1,000 days, so as a mom, we always make sure to provide healthy and nutritious meals that will support their immune system and make them stronger.)

The meal serves four people at a total cost of ₱65.

Meanwhile, LGU Iligan was recognized as the Make It Reel winner for its video showcasing community-level implementation of nutrition programs and promoting the message of nutrition as a basic right. (HSGA/GDA/PIA-10)