Demonstrating its strong commitment to gender-responsive and inclusive public health, the City Government of Isabela headed by Mayor Sitti Djalia A. Turabin-Hataman successfully concluded the 90-Day Supplemental Feeding Program for Nutritionally At-Risk Pregnant and Lactating Women on January 27, under the MANGAN para Alasig Program—a flagship initiative of the City’s Gender and Development (GAD) Program.
Implemented by the Isabela City Nutrition and Action Officer (CNAO), under the leadership of Ms. Jesielyn O. Puno, the maternal feeding component was conducted from September 24, 2025, benefiting mothers from Barangays Sunrise, Binuangan, and Busay—communities identified through nutrition assessments as having higher risk profiles.
A total of 16 pregnant and lactating women successfully completed the program and received Certificates of Completion, maternity kits, and grocery packages during the culmination activity. Barangay officials, Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), nurses, and midwives from the participating barangays attended the event, highlighting the importance of community-based collaboration in improving nutrition outcomes.
Participants shared heartfelt testimonies on how the program improved their strength, appetite, and overall well-being, enabling them to experience healthier pregnancies and better care for their infants. These outcomes underscore the GAD-aligned approach of MANGAN para Alasig, which prioritizes women’s specific health and nutrition needs during pregnancy and lactation—periods that are often most vulnerable yet most impactful.
The activity was supported by key nutrition and population stakeholders, including CNPC Ms. Nujaima Abdurahman, Nasra B. Mohammad, Focal Nutrition Dietitians Silma Adam and Ushyma Jamaaril, DOH–NDDP representative Anisa Cuevas, and Population Staff Ms. Lorelei Ann Montaño, who collectively emphasized the importance of sustained, integrated nutrition programs for both mothers and young children.
MANGAN para Alasig, which stands for Malnourished Children and Nutritionally At-Risk Pregnant Women Growth and Nutrition Program, is a two-pronged feeding intervention designed to address malnutrition at its most critical stages. One component focuses on malnourished children aged 0–59 months, while the other provides targeted nutritional support to nutritionally at-risk pregnant and lactating mothers, recognizing the direct link between maternal health and child survival and development.
Through MANGAN para Alasig, the City Government of Isabela reinforces its holistic and governance-driven approach to nutrition—addressing the needs of both mothers and children to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition and ensure a healthier, more resilient future for Isabela City. This sustained commitment to evidence-based, inclusive nutrition programming was formally recognized when Isabela City was conferred the CROWN Award by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in December 2025, honoring the City’s excellence in nutrition governance and program implementation.
