Dagdag timbang, dagdag sigla: Mandaluyong LGU kicks-off youth feeding program
Mandaluyong City Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos led the launching of the city's newest social program aimed at providing the Mandaleño youth with the necessary food and nutrients they need in growing up.



(Photos from Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos)
Abalos explained that under the "Oplan Dagdag-Timbang Balik Sigla Program," undernourished children of the city will be enrolled in the supplementary feeding program of the local government for six months with the primary purpose of increasing their weight, ensure that they receive the necessary nutrients their body needs, and boost their resistance against diseases.
The mayor also expressed her gratitude to Sen. Imee Marcos for her support in the city's program by providing hot meals and Nutribuns to the participants.
The city government previously provided goodie bags and food supplements to its underweight children, pregnant women, children with disabilities, and elderly as part of its expanded effort to curb malnutrition and other nutrition deficiency ailments.
"Kabilang ito sa mga benepisyo na kanilang tinatanggap na bahagi sa pagdiriwang ng Nutrition Month ngayong Hulyo at alinsunod na rin sa Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) na naglalayong isulong ang sapat at wastong nutrisyon para sa lahat (This is part of the benefits they are receiving this July in accordance with the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition that aims to promote proper nutrition for everyone)," Mandaluyong City Mayor Ben Abalos said.
The PPAN, launched in September last year by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) under the Department of Health (DOH), a comprehensive blueprint designed to guide government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia, and the private sector in their coordinated efforts to reduce all forms of malnutrition.
The NNC said the new PPAN sets directions for food and nutrition policies and strategies intended for various stakeholders and duty-bearers from the government, NGOs, development partners, academe, the private sector, and local government units, and focuses primarily on addressing all forms of malnutrition with particular attention to stunting and wasting, overweight and obesity, poor infant and young child feeding practices, and micronutrient deficiencies.