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Abalos tells LGUs: Prioritize children health and nutrition programs

Philippines | National

Abalos tells LGUs: Prioritize children health and nutrition programs

By Chito Chavez

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. called on the local government units (LGUs) on Sunday, Nov. 12, to further push for programs that will enhance the health and nutrition needs of the children in their respective areas.

“Dapat nating tutukan ang nutrisyon. Isa sa bawat tatlong Pilipinong bata ay undernourished, apektado ang kanilang brain development. Once na apektado ang utak ng bata sa first 1,000 days, mahihirapan na silang makabawi, apektado ang pag-aaral ng bata. Kaya ito ay pagtulungan natin (We should focus on nutrition. One out of three Filipino children is undernourished, their brain development is affected. Once the child’s brain is affected in the first 1,000 days they will find it difficult to recover, their studies are affected. Let us cooperate on this)," said Abalos.

In his meeting with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Executive Director Undersecretary Angelo M. Tapales, Abalos invited the Council to work with the DILG in addressing the perennial problem of child beggars on metropolitan streets especially with the upcoming Christmas season.

In DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2023-152, Abalos also prodded the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay LGUs to spearhead and support various activities aligned with the month-long NCM celebration with the theme “Healthy, Nourished, Sheltered: Ensuring the Right to Life for All.”

Abalos said he had recommended weekly activities that shall be anchored on survival rights for the first week, developmental rights for the second week, participation rights and National Play Advocacy Week in the third week, and protection rights week or juvenile justice and welfare consciousness week in the fourth week.

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