The nutrition month celebration carried out by the Supplementary Feeding Program of DSWD in Central Visayas ended with cheers from division representatives as they witnessed the search for a nutrition champion on July 26, 2024, at the convocation area.

The nutrition month advocacy efforts of the field office centered on ensuring work-life balance within the DSWD 7 community by promoting good eating habits, a healthy lifestyle, proper exercise, and mental health awareness.

The different division representatives contributed to the advocacy efforts through a poster-making contest that depicts their understanding of the Philippine Plan of Action’s theme, “Sa PPAN Sama-Sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat! ” that guided this year’s campaign.

Displayed at the convocation area and posted on the DSWD 7 official Facebook Page for one week, the artworks gained online votes for people’s choice award. The division candidates for Nutrition Champion presented and explained the artworks during the search.

Winners of the poster-making contest are the following: Human Resource Management and Development Division (2nd place), Financial Management Division (1st place), and Promotive Services Division (Winner and People’s Choice Award).

Artists from the Promotive Services Division, Fe Mar Ansok, Stephanie Guimisad, and John Jacob Ramos, said that their concern for everyone in the community prompted them to create the illustration.

“The hands that form a heart represent the ‘We’ in the DSWD family, having unity and cooperation in advocating for good nutrition and promoting healthy habits in the workplace,” said one of the artists from the winning team.

Juan Carlos P. Cañamo of the Human Resource Management and Development Division emerged as this year’s nutrition champion.

Feeling overwhelmed with the new role he will be taking as a nutrition ambassador in the DSWD community, he said this is an opportunity to influence the welfare of his fellow Angels in Red Vests.

Cañamo is excited to share his journey with his colleagues. “I have engaged myself in running, which has propelled me to join marathons lately. It helped shift my focus from entertaining stress to managing it with a positive outlook, making me efficient in finding solutions to every problem,” he said.

According to Cañamo, he plans to promote thirty-minute exercise among his colleagues, families, and friends so that they can ease the demands of work and remind everyone that “a healthier nation begins with each of us.”

Other awardees are Rolie M. Alderite, Community Development Officer III of the Promotive Services Division (1st Runner-Up), and Kimberly G. Masalta, Administrative Assistant III of the Policy and Plans Division (2nd Runner-Up).

Meanwhile, Assistant Regional Director for Operations Juanito C. Cantero encouraged everyone to take the advocacy to heart and not disregard the importance of self-care. “An overall improvement of one’s nutrition begins with the consumption of healthier diets, the adoption of positive nutrition practices, and increased access to nutritious foods. All these are what the Supplementary Feeding Program has done for us in this celebration,” he said.

The SFP also spearheaded the food fair every Friday at the convocation area with various partners from the Sustainable Livelihood Program and community-based groups organized by the Enhanced Partnerships Against Hunger and Poverty on all the Fridays in July.

It aims to have local products available for everyone, from fruits and vegetables to organic products and delicacies, creating an ecosystem of food security. ###

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