Nourish to flourish sponsors, collaborators lauded

The local and overseas sponsors of the Nourish to Flourish nutrition program was lauded by Committee Chair on Health and Sanitation, Ecology and Environmental Protection Councilor Elmer Datuin during the gift-giving activity at the Health Services Office (HSO) compound, Tuesday, Dec. 16.

With a great sense of civic responsibility and compassion, the sponsors undeniably, together with officials, government agencies, health authorities and the community; have planted seeds of hope, dignity and a brighter future for the city’s children, the councilor said in his message.

Fifty-two (52) identified nutrition-challenged Under Five Children (UFC) received gifts of school supplies, food packs, rice, milk, fruits and vegetables, diapers for the younger ones, multi-vitamins, nebulizer, maintenance medicines and therapy schedules for children with mild autism.

The sponsors’ gifts are not a temporary fix but an effort to tangible change through health and education for the youth, our future leaders, Councilor Datuin added.

In an earlier focused group discussion between the sponsors and beneficiaries, the need for livelihood, work-from-home arrangements/employment, nutrition education and training from the Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) and other agencies for the parents was looked into.

The Nourish to Flourish project, spearheaded by the HSO Baguio City Nutrition Council (BCNC) led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong started as a gift-giving and adopt-a-child program during the holiday season, which expanded into a six-month program.

This year’s Nourish to Flourish was launched last Oct. 15 and ends in May 2026.

Present during the gift-giving event are the sponsors, Councilor Elmer Datuin, HSO head Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, HSO Assistant head Dr. Ma. Lourdes Pakoy, HSO Nutrition and Dietetics head Lealyn Catiyan, barangay officials and other health authorities. – JGFianza