Tabuan Lasa Nutrition Office

26/09/2025

31/07/2025

Investing In My Municipality’s Future: MNAP Workshop for Basilan MNGP Batch 2 LGUs | July 28-30, 2025 | Hotel Primera, Zamboanga City

The MHO Tabuan Lasa proudly participated in the 3-day Municipal Nutrition Action Planning (MNAP) Workshop for Basilan MNGP Batch 2 Local Government Units, organized by the Zuellig Family Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Health - BARMM and the Provincial Government of Basilan.

Representing MHO Tabuan-Lasa were Mr. Edison C. Ballaho, NDI/MNAO and concurrent OIC-MHO; Ms. Lherma W. Kaulun, MECBA and FHSIS Coordinator and concurrent AOP/MOOE Focal; and Ms. Farhana B. Muktar, Nutrition Program Coordinator. Their active engagement throughout the sessions demonstrated the municipality's firm commitment to advancing nutrition governance and improving health outcomes.

The workshop equipped participants with valuable tools in strategic planning, evidence-based decision-making, and multisectoral collaboration—crucial components in crafting a responsive and inclusive Municipal Nutrition Action Plan for 2026-2028. The MHO Tabuan Lasa team brought forward key insights on local challenges while collaboratively identifying sustainable solutions tailored to their community’s unique needs.

This milestone participation signifies a pivotal step forward in Tabuan Lasa’s journey toward a healthier, well-nourished future—where every child thrives, and no one is left behind.

18/07/2025

100% SURVEY COVERAGE DESERVES A CELEBRATION 🎉

At Bukut Umus Footbridge in the morning of July 13, Sunday, a post-survey get together was held in the presence of no less than the very supportive and generous shining Mayor of Tabuan Lasa, Hon. Moner S. Manisan in celebration of the Team 2 Subteams 5 and 6 successful conduct of the 2025 Updating Survey in Barangays of Lanawan and Bukut Umus, Tabuan Lasa Municipality.

For eleven (11) days in the field, the teams’ data collection went well because of the overwhelming and unwavering cooperation, commitment, dedication and support of the following individuals from day one, to wit;

🍎Hon. Moner S. Manisan, Mayor of Tabuan Lasa
🍎Hon. Muamar S. Manisan, Barangay Captain of Bukut Umus and the Barangay Councilors present
🍎Hon. Pando Junaid, Barangay Captain of Lanawan and the Barangay Councilors present
🍎All Barangay Health and Nutrition Workers of Bukut Umus and Lanawan
🍎All the 62 target households of Barangay Lanawan and 34 target households of Barangay Bukut Umus

And of course, the ever-important blessings and grace of the Almighty God. 🤲🏼💕✨

Congratulations, Tabuan Lasa and DOST-FNRI’s T2ST5&6! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

18/07/2025

T2ST6: ACTUAL SURVEY and DATA COLLECTION ✨

After locating the target households/families based on the randomly selected PSA listing, the researchers scheduled each household for the body measurement taking and individual member interview for the succeeding days, depending on the household members’ availability.

All household members, depending on their numbers, will be taken anthropometric measurements such as weight, height and waist-hip ratio and blood pressure.

Getting the correct body and blood pressure measurements is crucial in identifying prevalence of underweight, underheight, thinness, overweight, and obesity and the prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as elevated blood pressure or hypertension.

A series of individual and household interviews will also be conducted to identify socio-economic characteristics of individual members and households, infant and young child feeding practices, maternal health and nutrition, status of food security, and level of awareness on DOST-FNRI programs and tools.

The survey results will be used as bases in crafting policies and nutrition tools such as the PPAN, food fortification program, ASIN law, PDRI, micronutrient supplementation, sin tax reform law, and many other health and nutrition-related initiatives in the local, regional and national government.

18/07/2025

DOST-FNRI’s 2025 Updating Survey’s Team 2 Subteam 6 is all-set for Tabuan Lasa ✨

Leading the subteam that is currently covering Tabuan Lasa’s Barangay Bukut Umus is Miss Krislyn P. Ellevera, Project Technical Specialist III, together with her are Miss Laica D. Andal, Miss Sitti Rhazena S. Basali and Miss Shelanee D. Dampilag, all are Project Technical Specialists I.

The team will be in Brgy. Bukut Umus from July 08 to 14, 2025.

12/07/2025

TEAM 2 SUBTEAM 6 ON-BOARD THE SHINING ISLAND ✨

While the data collection is ongoing at Brgy. Lanawan, another subteam from the big team 2 of DOST-FNRI has arrived at Brgy. Bukut Umus, Saluping Island, Tabuan Lasa on July 08, 2025 to conduct the 2025 Updating Survey.

They were picked up by Tabuan Lasa’s MNAO and concurrent OIC-MHO Edison C. Ballaho at Buli-Buli Port in Sumisip, Tuesday morning.

Immediately after their arrival in Bukut Umus, a project orientation was held at Bukut Umus Covered Court where the Bukut Umus Brgy. Chairman, Hon. Muamar “Kap Pogi” Manisan alongside various Brgy. Councilors together with the RHU Staff, the BNS and all the BHWs were in attendance during the orientation.

In the afternoon, together with the MNAO, the team went on to locate the target households and will schedule them for body measurements taking and face-to-face interview for the succeeding days.

At night, the team paid a courtesy call to Tabuan Lasa Mayor, Hon. Moner S. Manisan.

08/07/2025

T2ST5: ACTUAL SURVEY and DATA COLLECTION ✨

After locating the target households/families based on the randomly selected PSA listing, the researchers scheduled each household for the body measurement taking and individual member interview for the succeeding days, depending on the household members’ availability.

All household members, depending on their numbers, will be taken anthropometric measurements such as weight, height and waist-hip ratio and blood pressure.

Getting the correct body and blood pressure measurements is crucial in identifying prevalence of underweight, underheight, thinness, overweight, and obesity and the prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as elevated blood pressure or hypertension.

A series of individual and household interviews will also be conducted to identify socio-economic characteristics of individual members and households, infant and young child feeding practices, maternal health and nutrition, status of food security, and level of awareness on DOST-FNRI programs and tools.

The survey results will be used as bases in crafting policies and nutrition tools such as the PPAN, food fortification program, ASIN law, PDRI, micronutrient supplementation, sin tax reform law, and many other health and nutrition-related initiatives in the local, regional and national government.

07/07/2025

T2ST5: PROJECT ORIENTATION and HOUSEHOLD LOCATION ✨

Saturday morning in Brgy. Lanawan, the DOST-FNRI Team 2 Subteam 5 gathered key community officials, local RHU staff and barangay health and nutrition workers to hold an orientation regarding the conduct of the updating survey.

MNAO Edison C. Ballaho presided the orientation and introduced the survey team to the members of the local community. On the other hand, Ms. Tess Ambayec, Team Leader, discussed the project’s objectives, components, its importance and the uses of its results. Moreover, all Brgy. Lanawan BHWs attended the said orientation and the team emphasized their significant roles and functions in the duration of the data collection — to serve as aide in the location of the households, to accompany the researchers in taking body measurements and will serve as translator during interviews — which are crucial in gathering quality and timely data on health and nutrition.

Afternoon of the same day, the team together with their local aides (BHWs) began locating the households and schedule families for body measurement taking the following day.

07/07/2025

DOST-FNRI’s 2025 Updating Survey’s Team 2 Subteam 5 is all-set for Tabuan Lasa ✨

Leading the subteam that is currently covering Tabuan Lasa’s Barangay Lanawan is Ms. Marites Ambayec, Project Technical Specialist III, together with her are Miss Lady Fiel Delfino, Miss Christine Espligues, Miss Nurfaiza Berik and Mr. Jon Clarence Dalion, all are Project Technical Specialists I.

The team will be in Brgy. Lanawan from July 04 to 14, 2025.

07/07/2025

Welcome to Basilan, DOST-FNRI Research Teams! ✨

On Friday, July 04 around 11 o’clock in the morning, nine (9) subteams of the big team 2 of the Department of Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) arrived in Isabela City, Basilan to conduct the 2025 Updating of the Nutritional Status of Filipino Children and Other Population Groups, otherwise known as the 2025 Updating Survey, in five (5) randomly selected municipalities and one (1) component city in the province, to include the shining island municipality of Tabuan Lasa.

Upon their arrival at the city’s port, the teams traveled to Basilan Government Center (BGC) in Brgy. Sta Clara, Lamitan City to pay courtesy to Basilan Governor, Hon. Mujiv S. Hataman, who, during the said visit was in Cotabato City for an equally important meeting with the BARMM Ministers, but was represented by the Provincial Administrator and concurrent Provincial Human Resource Management and Development Officer, Mr. Manny C. Muarip. Team 2’s Assistant Team Coordinator (ATC), Miss Paula Escanilla, discussed and explained the survey’s objectives, components and the uses of the survey results.

The objective of this updating survey is to update the nutrition and health status of Filipinos in 2025 as input for the development and reformulation of policies and interventions at the regional and national levels. Survey components include: (1) anthropometry, (2) clinical and health, (3) socio-economic characteristics of households and individuals, (4) infant and young child feeding, (5) food security, (6) maternal health and nutrition and (7) awareness of DOST-FNRI programs and tools.

The Provincial Government of Basilan pledged to support this research endeavor as mandated by the national government and will ensure the safety of the researchers deployed in various areas of the province and the completeness and successful coverage of the survey.

For Tabuan Lasa, two (2) subteams will cover the randomly selected areas of Bukut Umus in Saluping Island and Lanawan in Lanawan Island for eleven (11) days. A total of nine (9) researchers composed of trained health professionals like nutritionists-dietitians and nurses will conduct the survey to randomly selected households/families. The teams assigned in Tabuan Lasa were received by Mr. Edison C. Ballaho, MNAO and concurrent OIC-MHO of Tabuan Lasa RHU. Mr. Ballaho accompanied the teams from the port to courtesy call to bringing them in their assign area.

The Tabuan Lasa Nutrition Office is grateful to Sahaya Mayor, Hon. Moner S. Manisan for the continued support given to every nutrition activity the office is implementing.

24/06/2025