Alaminos aims for zero malnutrition rate by 2013
ALAMINOS CITY–By the year 2013, this city intends to go on record as having a zero malnutrition rate through its unique ‘Expanded Feeding Cum Livelihood Program’.
This is an ambitious goal for Alaminos, which in 2005 had the highest malnutrition rate in the entire Ilocos Region at 22.1% among the city’s pre-school children and 25.7% among elementary students.
As of last year, the city’s malnutrition rate has been reduced to 4.7% for pre-school kids and 12.8% for elementary students.
Dr. Marivic Carambas, city health officer, said the ongoing successful campaign against malnutrition initiated by Mayor Hernani Braganza involves not only government agencies but the city’s farmers and out-of-school youths s well.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod met with farmers to ask them to provide a regular supply of vegetables for the pre-school and elementary students covered by the feeding program.
In turn, the farmers received livelihood benefits from the program through funding from the Alaminos government.
This strategy has been recognized as a “best practice” and is now being duplicated by other local government units, according to Carambas.
In addition, a group of out-of school youths, known as ‘Batang Plaza’ (BP), known troublemakers and vagrants who mill around the city plaza was tapped to participate in the feeding/livelihood program.
The BP today is organized into a group with different chapters whose members utilize vacant lots to grow various kinds of vegetables, which give them regular sources of income.
According to BP Main Chapter President Michael Ralph Cardenas, city agriculturist office taught them organic farming being promoted by the city in all barangays to protect the environment.
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