In the Taripnong press conference hosted by the Public Affairs and Information Assistance Division, the Nutrition Division of the Governor’s Office announced their current and future plans and projects in continuing to improve the state of Nutrition within the province of Nueva Vizcaya. Nutrition Officers Luzviminda Ragpa and Ruben Ramuel Ambatali II, as well as Provincial Integrated Health Officer and Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Anthony Cortez were the speakers.
Ms. Ragpa, Mr. Ambatali, and Dr. Cortez spoke of the Healthy Food Procurement Ordinance, as well as the Water Bell Ordinance, both authored by BM Eunice Galima-Gambol. The Nutrition Division plans to hold an Orientation for not only officials, but also private partners and stakeholders in Nutrition, with the event scheduled for the following month of August.
The Healthy Food Procurement Ordinance entails the provision of organically farmed, fresh and diverse, and nutritionally balanced foods in areas under the purview of the governing bodies, while the Water Bell Ordinance plans for the installation of an alarm bell to signal water drinking at planned intervals. The latter ordinance had been a movement, since legitimized, and now awaiting implementation at the provincial level before trickling down to the municipal local government units.
When asked on the current state of general health and Nutrition within the province, Ms. Ragpa and Dr. Cortez spoke of rising chronic kidney disease, obesity, and hidden hunger within the province, with the latter being most prevalent among vulnerable and high-risk groups. With the period for the current Provincial Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) nearing its conclusion, the Nutrition Division are in the process of formulating their new three-year PPAN for 2026-2028.The Nutrition Division’s recent achievements were also bared during the conference.
In an earlier report from May, nutrition within the province had ‘highly improved’, according to the regional assessment team of the National Nutrition Council during the Regional Monitoring and Evaluation of the Local Level Implementation Plan (MELLPI) Exit Conference and Feedbacking. Aritao and Dupax del Sur had also managed to retain their Nutrition Honor Awards. During the same conference, it was announced that Nueva Vizcaya would be hosting the Regional Nutrition Month celebration, which indeed began in the municipality of Quezon.
The Nutrition Month celebration included such events as a motorcade, Zumba classes, the Nutrition Month Pledge (Signing of Commitment for officials), and simultaneous contests such as the Nutri-Quiz Bee, Search for the Best Indigenous Recipe, and the Nutri-Bazaar. The culminating activity for the Nutrition Month will be held on July 28, 2025, and will include the announcements of the winners of the Digital Photography, Poster Making, and Videography contests.
With the state of Nutrition in the province being ‘Outstanding’, as evidenced by 14 out of 15 municipalities garnering this very distinction during the MELLPI Exit conference, the work of the Nutrition Division speaks for itself, as the office continuously works under the banner and support of Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito to make a healthier Nueva Vizcaya. /igmb
[This article was initially created on Facebook – Vizcaya Reporter. For PLGU-Nueva Vizcaya updates, visit: https://www.facebook.com/vizcayareporter]
