AJINOMOTO Philippines Corporation (APC) in collaboration with Department of Health (DOH) and Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) formed ties with the Cainta local government to launch the Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo! 2019 Program.
The ceremonial contract signing held last Sept. 20, 2019 at Cainta Elementary School was graced by former DOH undersecretary and Mag -Pinggang-Pinoy® Tayo! 2019 Technical Working Group (TWG) chairman Dr. Ethelyn Nieto, Cainta mayor Johnielle Kieth Nieto, Cainta vice mayor Ace Bernardo Servillon, DOH CALABARZON division chief Dr. Noel Pasion, FNRI science research specialist II Jovina Sandoval, and APC Group president Tsutomu Nara.
The country has been facing decades-long phenomenon called “Double Burden of Malnutrition”, which the World Health Organization (WHO) defined as the “coexistence of undernutrition along with overweight and obesity, or diet-related noncommunicable diseases, within individuals, households and populations, and across the lifecourse.”
In 2018, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation partnered with government agencies to conduct the pilot run of Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo! in order to raise awareness and promote the practice of Pinggang Pinoy® in malnutrition hotspots in Quezon City, Kalookan, Malabon and Navotas. This year, the public-private alliance brings the program to Cainta to educate its homemakers on the causes and effects of the Double Burden of Malnutrition and make available practical tips on how to serve Pinggang Pinoy® using Ajinomoto’s delicious, healthy, easy-to-prepare and affordable recipes.
Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo! 2019 Program aims to unite Cainta to adopt Pinggang Pinoy® and promote healthier eating habits to fight Double Burden of Malnutrition.
The program’s TWG, led by Dr. Nieto, has started to convene representatives from the four institutions to develop modules for homemakers, barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars based on careful nutrition needs assessment. The education and livelihood programs as well as the improvement evaluation will ensue until year 2020. Cainta Government also expressed their strong commitment to promote the practice of Pinggang Pinoy® in the whole municipality.
APC president Tsutomu Nara conveyed his gratitude to the program’s stakeholders saying, “We all came here today to mark the beautiful changes that will happen in CAINTA! And I thank all of you for showing your commitment. This event is a milestone that aims for a healthier citizenry to fight Double Burden of Malnutrition, not only in Cainta but in the Philippines.”
For updates about Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo!, visit www.ajinomoto.com.ph and facebook.com/CookmunitybyAjinomotoPH./PN
