LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – Ifugao folks can now expect better nutrition services following the support extended by Vice Governor Glenn Prudenciano to the Buyabuyan Council and other stakeholders, thus, setting into motion a connectivity program between his office and the people, which links the public and private sectors on utilizing practically scarce resources for nutrition concerns.
The full implementation of the agenda and program envisioned by Vice Governor Prudenciano supports the provincial government’s bid to address problems on malnutrition and the like and reach more people especially those living in remote barangays (villages).
At a program celebrating the annual nutrition month, villagers welcomed the pronouncements and commitment of Vice Governor Prudenciano to further reduce the incidence of malnutrition. The program was held at Buyabuyan Elementary School.
Buyabuyan is a far-flung village of Lagawe. It is one of the poorest villages in Ifugao.
Accelerating program spending on nutrition concerns is part of Vice Governor Purdenciano’s socioeconomic agenda.
“It’s comforting that based on what have ben said so far, the poor people largely accepted the agenda,” a villager said.
Several villagers joined a number of young learners in relearning the lessons of good nutrition. Others who took part in the program were Punong Barangay Amelita Punno, Dr. Theresa Kalugdan, Nora Dangayo, Helen Naballin, Maricel Dimalhin, Clarence Dimi-ang, Charmaine Allaga and Nolly Balallo.
Vice Governor Prudenciano, a former mayor, has earned the reputation of working closely with national and local government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) to make sure that relevant policies and programs on nutrition and health are propagated, instilled and implemented at the grassroots level, most especially in depressed communities.
Andres Ordilla, who works at the Office of the Vice Governor, represented Prudenciano at the program.
Ordilla had said the vice governor “will surely do his part to work closely with the barangay council, education sector, peoples organizations and all those involved in advancing the cause of nutrition in the province.
“Vice Governor Prudenciano will definitely puruse noteworthy plans and programs designed to curb nutrition-related problems at the soonest possible time,” Ordilla said in an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly.
It would be wise for Ifugao folks and all others in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to familiarize themselves with Vice Governor Prudenciano and Mr. Ordillo of their views and actuations so their expectations are properly set. Both are considered as wise, hardworking and approachable.
If you want to know the real conditions of the people, don’t turn a blind eye to an invitation to visit and stay for a couple of days in an underserved village like Buyabuyan. Just look at the faces of school children there and connect it with widespread poverty and its overwhelming impact on their well-being in the nutrition level. Apologists in the provincial government are saying there is nothing to worry about the malnutrition problem in Ifugao. For this to become a reality in Ifugao, one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines, concrete actions must be taken to infuse more funds for nutrition projects and programs in distant and marginalized villages. It is the earnest hope of many that the policy recommendation be brought to the attention and political will of Governor Jerry Dalipog and Vice Governor Prudenciano.
Specifically, feeding programs, which serve as the benchmark for a well-attuned planning blueprint is shockingly underfunded. But across the 176 villages in Ifugao, malnutrition cases are apparent. In short, cases of malnutrition had been rising.
For instance, barangay government officials are still serving low-nutrient, little amount of food to the young in feeding programs.
Feeding them arroz caldo (rice congee with chicken) or monggo (or “balatong” in northern Luzon areas) are seen as viable choices because these are low on cost and not difficult to cook.
From the very start of the national government, officials were always very conscious of the platform to maintaining a healthy citizenry as well as their prime responsibility to protect the youth sector from the ill-effects of severe malnutrition and stunted growth among kids.
With this in mind, provincial government officials, particularly those in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, must continue p dig deeper in order to allocate resources judiciously, prudently and wisely as a means of sparing children from the dreaded effects of malnutrition.
Dismal is the record of past administrations in addressing the problems in nutrition and health because officials merely relied on questionable statistics. Statistics possibly spewed out to please “bosses” at the office. But folks do not want and need just statistics- even if accurate; the provincial government must ensure that indeed all 176 barangays, countless sitios and households in Ifugao are malnutrition-free. It’s a good start!
Recognizing the alarming level of the nutrition problem across various villages in the province, there is a special opportunity for Vice Governor Prudenciano to push a well-meaning, honest-to-goodness nutrition agenda.
To a major extent, this development reflects the groundswell of support from the citizenry Vice Governor Prudenciano received from the electorate in the last May midterm polls. Without a doubt, they are with him in aspiring for genuine and meaningful changes in Ifugao that will keep each child away from the pernicious effects of malnutrition.
The best platform for waging the war against poverty and hunger is at the local government level. Each day of extreme hunger in Barangay Buyabuyan for a poor kid steals a slice of his or her future. For apologists and unbelievers, they’re living in another world. Right-thinking individuals assume that provincial government officials were aware of this problem and related woes that happened under their watch. For example, the ratio of doctor to patients in 2016 was 1:40,000. Frankly, it is frightening!
Some amount of putting more dynamic officials like Vice Governor Prudenciano is headway for good and responsive governance to thrive through the vagaries of sickening alibis and excuses in not weeding out malnutrition.
For impoverished folks of Ifugao, anything that makes their plight less difficult would be an improvement. Burdensome laws should be abrogated. It should reflect the wishes of the vast majority rather than the “whims and caprices” of a few moneyed politicians. Unless massive funding is siphoned to nutrition, Ifugao will never be able to meet the health needs of an increasing population. **By Anthony A. Araos
