Fight vs. stunting launched in Gumaca

By Gerrmie Non, Kalahi CIDSS-PMNP Kalahi-CIDSS Project Development Officer IV Engr. Liza Climacosa, Community Development Officer III Marife...

By Gerrmie Non, Kalahi CIDSS-PMNP

Kalahi-CIDSS Project Development Officer IV Engr. Liza Climacosa, Community Development Officer III Marife Abuel, and Ivy Mascardo, FA III, who represented DSWD Field Office IV-A Regional Director Barry Chua, DOH IV-A Director Ariel Valencia, represented by Camille Anne Castaneda, Project Associate/Regional Project Officer for Mobilization and Technical Assistance, Hon. Elchor Caralian, Sangguniang Bayan member, Chairman of the Committee on Health, the 59 barangay captains, Municipal Nutrition Committee members, and Municipal Health Officer Dra. Mara Estelita C. Soriano, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Arnan Sason, Municipal Advisory Council Members, Area Coordinating Team led by Merly, and Municipal Coordinating Team led by Gerrimie Non.

GUMACA, Quezon - The World Bank (WB)-funded Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) has been recently launched here as the government ramps up the fight against malnutrition with Mayor Webster Letargo leading the ceremony and emphasizing the importance of addressing malnutrition.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Local Government of Gumaca have partnered together to implement the PMNP in the municipality.



This collaboration aims to improve the nutritional status of children and mothers through various interventions and programs.

Kalahi CIDSS also played a significant role in the launch, as they provided technical assistance and community mobilization to ensure the success of the project.



According to the mayor, malnutrition has been a persistent issue in Gumaca, and it is crucial to address it comprehensively.

The PMNP aims to improve the nutritional status of children and pregnant women through various interventions and programs. With the support of Kalahi CIDSS, the project is expected to have a significant impact on reducing malnutrition rates in the community.

In the Oplan Timbang (OPT) 2022 report, Gumaca ranked 5 and 21 in wasting and stunting, respectively, in Quezon Province. These rankings highlight the urgent need for targeted efforts to combat malnutrition in the area.

OPT is one of the key interventions under the PMNP. It involves regular weighing and monitoring of children's growth to identify and address malnutrition at an early stage.

Gumaca is one of the 24 municipalities here in Quezon Province that have already entered into a tripartite agreement with the PMNP and Kalahi CIDSS.

This agreement ensures that Gumaca will receive the necessary resources and assistance to implement effective interventions and programs targeting malnutrition in children and pregnant women.

The PMNP will implement the program through the Kapit-Bisig Laban Sa Kahirapan: Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services program, which allows the community to identify and prioritize their community problems and design, implement, and manage their interventions and solutions.

As part of the project, the DSWD will allocate over ₱14 million for nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific projects under the KALAHI-CIDSS program, with a focus on early childhood care and development facilities.

Present during the event were Kalahi-CIDSS Project Development Officer IV Engr. Liza Climacosa, Community Development Officer III Marife Abuel, and Ivy Mascardo, FA III, who represented DSWD Field Office IV-A Regional Director Barry Chua, DOH IV-A Director Ariel Valencia, represented by Camille Anne Castaneda, Project Associate/Regional Project Officer for Mobilization and Technical Assistance, Hon. Elchor Caralian, Sangguniang Bayan member, Chairman of the Committee on Health, the 59 barangay captains, Municipal Nutrition Committee members, and Municipal Health Officer Dra. Mara Estelita C. Soriano, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Arnan Sason, Municipal Advisory Council Members, Area Coordinating Team led by Merly, and Municipal Coordinating Team led by Gerrimie Non.

The PMNP will be implemented in the next three years. During this period, the PMNP aims to address the nutritional needs of the community by promoting proper nutrition and healthy lifestyles. It will also involve conducting regular monitoring and evaluation to ensure the effectiveness of the program's interventions.