DIFFUN, Quirino, April 30 (PIA)– To reduce the number of malnourished children in the municipality, the local government has provided seeds and seedlings to all families in the 32 barangays here through Aldaw Ti Umili “PasadangPangkalusugansa Barangay” program which ran from January to December last year.

“This is one way of sustaining food supply for every family,” Ramillosa added noting that the main cause of malnutrition in the municipality is low food intake due to food insecurity.

Through the provision of seeds and seedlings, Ramillosa said each family will have backyard vegetable garden as a source of vegetables so they won’t be worrying where to get money to buy foods for the family.

In 2012, there are 111 underweight pre-school children and 290 wasted and severely wasted school children in the municipality. “Hopefully, we will be able to reduce the number of malnourished children in our town by ensuring that there is food in every table of the families,” Ramillosa said.

“We will conduct regular monitoring and search for the best family, school and MNC backyard garden to ensure that the gardens will be sustained,” she likewise said.

The lady nutrition officer said every family in the 32 barangays was given free seeds and seedlings which were produced by the municipal demo located barangay Luttuad.

“The seedlings were grown organically to prevent the families from diseases caused by too much use of chemical fertilizers,” Ramillosa stressed.

During the Pasada program, the nutrition committee conducted actual assessment of the families with underweight children and they were referred to concerned agencies for assistance.

The program was spearheaded by the mayor as driver, the vice mayor as the sparing driver and the different line agencies and non-government agencies as passengers, visited all the 32 barangays bringing with them various social services.