The City Health Services Office (CHSO), through the Baguio City Nutrition Council (BCNC), will lead the month-long celebration of Nutrition Month starting July 6 during the city hall flag-raising ceremony. The activities will be held city-wide, in districts, and in barangays, anchored on the theme: “Nutrisyon at Kalikasan, Ating Pangalagaan.”
City Nutritionist Lealyn Catiyan announced the program during a BCNC meeting held at the CHSO on June 26. Present were CHSO head Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes; Engr. Leandro Tabilog, representing Mayor Benjamin Magalong as BCNC chair; retired medical officer Dr. John Tinoyan; retired Nutrition Officer Angelita Sabado; and representatives from various city offices.
Catiyan said the celebration will feature a mix of education, livelihood, health, and environmental activities designed to promote proper nutrition and sustainable living.
City-wide events include nutrition education and livelihood training set on July 9 and 10, along with contests such as the Best Household Garden search and a Waste-to-Value Food Innovation competition. District-level activities will include eco-walks, tree planting, community garden monitoring, “Biggest Loser” challenges, and supplementary feeding programs.
The Best Household Garden contest, titled “Hapag Sa Tahanan: Grow, Nourish, Thrive Household Garden,” encourages families to grow at least five varieties of edible plants while practicing environmentally friendly gardening methods. The goal is to promote good nutrition, healthy households, and a greener environment through sustainable home food production.
Meanwhile, the Waste-to-Value Food Innovation contest, “From Surplus to Sustenance: Innovating Food for Nutrition and Sustainability,” challenges participants to create nutritious, safe, affordable, and sustainable food products using surplus or underutilized ingredients. The competition is open to individuals or teams of up to three members, with only one entry allowed per participant or group.
Details and deadlines for both contests will be announced online and cascaded through health districts, Catiyan said.
All activities align with the city’s “Pansa-nopen” initiative, which supports Baguio’s Circular Economy Program by shifting from a linear waste system to a more sustainable, circular model. “Pansa-nopen,” an Ibaloy term meaning “gather, conserve, renew,” underscores this approach.
All 16 health districts—including Asin, Atab, Atok Trail, Aurora Hill, Campo Filipino, Engineers Hill, Irisan, Loakan, Mines View, Pinsao, Lucban, City Camp, Quirino Hill, Quezon Hill, Scout Barrio, and Pacdal—along with their satellite clinics and barangays, are expected to participate.
A wide range of activities is lined up, including information and education campaigns, lectures, seminars, nutrition counseling, mothers’ classes, and barangay assemblies promoting healthy lifestyles, anti-smoking, alcohol awareness, and responsible health practices.
Breastfeeding promotion will also be highlighted in line with Republic Act 10028 or the Expanded Breastfeeding Act of 2009, as well as a city ordinance supporting breastfeeding mothers’ groups.
Catiyan emphasized the importance of partnerships and community engagement, including collaboration with NGOs, volunteers, parents, youth groups, and other sectors.
Barangay-based programs will include growth monitoring, feeding programs, cooking demonstrations and contests, micronutrient supplementation, nutrition screenings, and food preparation activities. Communities will also host nutrition booths, healthy food displays, food fairs, agri-nutrition exhibits, and recipe demonstrations.
Health and wellness activities such as Zumba, aerobics, dance exercise, fun runs, walks, sports events, immunization drives, deworming, sugar testing, and medical-dental missions are also part of the schedule.
Environmental and livelihood components include backyard and urban gardening, seed distribution, composting demonstrations, poultry raising, food processing training, waste segregation activities, and canal clean-up drives.
Academic and cultural contests such as poster making, jingles, drawing, quizzes, essay writing, oratorical competitions, and song and dance performances will also be held. Families are likewise encouraged to join activities such as healthy baby, healthy child, and family nutrition contests.
Religious and community thanksgiving activities will be interspersed throughout the celebration.
The Nutrition Month will culminate in an awarding ceremony and closing program titled “Nourish to Flourish” on August 6. ** jgfianza, with reports from BCNC, CHSO
