The Community Outreach Program – Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement (COP-BIDANI) conducted the culminating activity of the 50th Nutrition Month Celebration for its partner communities on 23 July 2024 at Barangay Tiabas, San Dionisio, Iloilo. This year’s theme “Sa PPAN, Sama-sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat,” highlights the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) which aims to reduce all forms of malnutrition across all life stages.
The activity started with the presentation of the barangay profiles of Barangay Moto and Barangay Tiabas to the barangay councils and community members of the two barangays. The barangay profiles are the products of Step 1 of the BIDANI Strategy, the Barangay Management Information System, a project that aims to establish a computer-based barangay data system that could provide accurate and accessible information for development program planning, implementation, and monitoring evaluation. COP-BIDANI student interns Kate R. Echanojaurique, Czarina Dianne C. Leguip, Johnalyn S. Lim, and Kirschten Evessa C. Estandarte from the BA in Community Development program led the presentation of the barangay profiles.
It was followed by the launching of the KupCOP Cookbook Volume 2 which features various recipes incorporating the KupCOP Mix adopted from the Insumix of the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute. The KupCOP mix is a mixture of ground rice, monggo, and sesame seeds that can be added to food preparations for additional nutrients. A cooking demonstration by COP-BIDANI Staff Ms. Elna Mariel M. Nanta and a cooking showdown eagerly participated in by the members of the community followed.
Simultaneously, age-appropriate activities for elementary school-aged children of the community such as a poster-making competition and psychosocial activities emphasizing the importance of nutrition were also conducted. These activities were led by COP-BIDANI student interns Jonalyn F. Camariñas and Marie Curie F. de los Santos from the BA in Psychology program.
Moreover, Mr. Marianito M. Ramirez, Jr. of the Office of Continuing Education and Pahinungod gave a brief overview of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, and discussed the prevalent nutritional problems faced by Filipinos and ways to combat such. He also highlighted the incorporation of the KupCOP mix in preparing meals and ways on how the KupCOP mix could be a possible business venture.
The activity was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the College of Arts and Sciences, the COP-BIDANI, and the Municipality of San Dionisio headed by Hon. Darwin E. Bajada, and the Municipal Health Office of San Dionsio headed by Dr. Regine Veil D. Manderico.
