World Food Programme (WFP), the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger and promoting food security, is partnering with NNC Mimaropa in a project entitled “Prevention of Wasting (Acute Malnutrition) in the Calamity and El Nino-affected and selected areas in the Philippines.” Having a pervasive number of acutely malnourished children among other regions, which might have been worsened by the recent hit of typhoon Lando and Nona and the impending El Niño, the World Food Programme listed MIMAROPA as one of the regions to benefit from the said project.

The Municipality of Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro was selected by the NNC – MIMAROPA to be included in the project as it is the region’s most vulnerable municipality in so far as malnutrition is concerned. It had the highest prevalence of underweight preschool children in the region based on the 2013` Operation Timbang Plus (OPT +) results.

The said project is a 2-month supplementary feeding program which aims to mitigate the negative effect of recent calamities and El Nino. It is expected to prevent the development of acute malnutrition among children 6- 59 months living in Abra de Ilog through the provision of Plumpy’Sup, a nutritious ready-to-use-food-supplement (RUSF). It is made of peanut paste, vegetable fat, soy protein isolate, whey, maltodextrin, sugar, and cocoa and contains vitamins and minerals vital for good nutrition and a healthy body. It is intended for treating and preventing wasting in children and can be consumed without the need of heat nor addition of any food and water.

To determine specific action lines regarding the project, a meeting was held on 15 January 2016 at the World Food Programme Philippines Office, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City together with NNC-Mimaropa Officer-In-Charge Carina Z. Santiago; WFP National Program Officer for Nutrition, Dr. Martin R. Parreno; and Abra de Ilog Municipal Health and Nutrition Action Officer, Dr. Ma. Corazon Bernabe. The details of the project implementation such as the plans for distribution; the monitoring and evaluation requirements; and the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to be used were discussed. Along with the discussion were the agreements on the point of delivery of the commodities, schedule of the ceremonial turnover, and data needed from the local government units.

A total of 5.2 metric tons of Plumpy’Sup is allocated for Abra de Ilog for the 1884 targeted children. Each child will be provided with a total of 15 sachets per month for 2 months which should be consumed at ½ sachet daily.

A ceremonial turnover is scheduled on 29 February 2016 along with the celebration of Abra de Ilog’s Rural Health Unit (RHU) anniversary.