To celebrate milestones achieved, the Zuellig Family Foundation in partnership with Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Foundation (KGJF) held the culmination of its Municipal Nutrition Governance Program (MNGP) with a Learning Forum on Nutrition Governance on July 5, Manila.

Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman was selected as one of the panel speakers to discuss Strengthening Nutrition Governance and Financing to Improve Service Delivery. In this forum, lessons and recommendations from the implementation of MNGP in Sarangani and Basilan were shared and disseminated.

In 2022, the City Government of Isabela was honored during the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony by the National Nutrition Council IX and received recognition in multiple categories, including Most Improved Nutritional Status (Stunting) and Most Improved Nutritional Status (Overweight) as the city showcased significant improvements in reducing stunting and addressing overweight and obesity-related issues. Additionally, Isabela City was acknowledged for having the greatest budget on nutrition programs (more than 10 million pesos), indicating its commitment to prioritizing nutrition and implementing well-defined plans. On top of this, City Nutrition Action Officer Jesielyn Puno was recognized as the Best City Nutrition Action Officer in the entire Zamboanga Peninsula region.

Under the current administration, a Registered Nutritionist and Dietician and 5 support staff were hired for the City Nutrition Office. At the barangay level, 45 Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) are provided with allowances by the City Government. Recently, Mayor Turabin-Hataman local has prioritized the creation and funding plantilla personnel for the City Nutrition Office in the succeeding year.

Part of the Nutrition Governance Team of LGU Isabela City who also completed the program were City Population Management and Development Officer and concurrent Nutrition Action Officer Jesielyn Puno, City Health Officer Dr. Mohrein Ismael VI, City Agriculture Office representative and agricultural technologist Jonathan Pedillon, City Social Welfare Development Office representative SWO Jean Mariano, PESO representative Ma. Leah Esturco, and Isabela City Nutrition Program Coordinator Nujaima Abdurahman.

The forum also welcomed distinguished guests from Basilan including Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay, Maluso Municipal Mayor Hanie Bud, Tipo-Tipo Municipal Mayor Arcam Istarul, and Sumisip Municial Mayor Jul-Adnan Hataman. (Contributed)

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