SOLANA, Cagayan, April 9 (PIA) –Twenty ‘Kalesas’ were painted with ten nutritional guidelines in the Kalesa painting contest here to promote good nutrition in this town, led by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) region 2.

The contest kicked-off the project in partnership with LGU-Solana, Municipal Health Office, different departments of the said LGU and the barangay officials highlighting the nutritional guidelines which will help public understand and follow the guidelines to improve their nutritional status.

Rhodora Maestre, nutrition program coordinator, said they consider Kalesas, the old-fashioned means of transportation in the town, as effective tool in communicating effectively nutrition program.

“We call it as moving billboard. It is very effective because everyone, across ages, can easily capture the core message painted in the Kalesa. It is also very effective in persuading young individuals to eat vegetables and follow other guidelines as they are seen and read through the moving advocacy material,” Maestre said.

She said they also gave incentives to the operators of the Kalesa to augment their daily income and to compensate for their income during the painting day. Aside from the P500 incentive, the LGU also gave food packs to each of the 20 operators.

“Aside from utilizing them as channel of communication to promotion good nutrition, we are also concerned on their livelihood that is why we gave a little as additional to their income. The painted Kalesa will also boost their daily income because, as experienced in other towns, passengers will increase especially, young people who are fond of riding the colorfully painted Kalesa,” Maestre added.

She further said they plan to add more Kalesas to be painted as well as expand the project in other towns which have still Kalesa as means of transportation.