19/10/2025
๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น: ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ
By Trixie Leanne Jaraula
On October 1, the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (BSND) students of Lourdes College successfully concluded a highly structured two-day (September 30 and October 1) field exposure in Opol, Misamis Oriental. This activity, conducted in partnership with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) of Opol and the Registered Nutritionists-Dietitians (RNDs) of the DSWD Region 10 Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) unit, served as a driver for the studentsโ experiential learning.
The exposure facilitated the integration of theoretical knowledge into applied public health nutrition, specifically focusing on the DSWDโs efforts in addressing childhood malnutrition.
๐๐ฆ๐ช๐โ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ (๐ฆ๐๐ฃ)
The Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) a major government initiative to combat childhood malnutrition. It is one of DSWDโs key contributions to the early childhood care and development (ECCD) system. It involves providing hot meals or fortified foods, in addition to their regular meals, to children enrolled in Child Development Centers (CDCs) and Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP) groups for a period of 120 feeding days. The programโs core objectives are to improve the nutritional status of targeted children, enhance their health, and support families in providing adequate care and nutrition.
๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ญ: ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
The first day focused on mentorship and structured monitoring of the 2025 SFP implementation. The teams, comprised of BSND students and the dedicated DSWD RNDs of Region 10 - including Katrina Javato, Teodel Montecalvo, Dianne Jane Elemento, Marie Angelie Fernandez, Mary Lou Salcedo, and Gracelyn Salvador, visited various Child Development Centers (CDCs) across Opol to assist in the validation and monitoring of the SFP. Students demonstrated their foundational skills through hands-on experience in:
a. Anthropometric Measurements to monitor the nutritional status of targeted malnourished children to use as a basis for evaluation;
b. Nutrition Education for mothers and guardians to interact and learn proper nutrition, healthy food preparation, and food safety; and
c. Nutrition Counseling by engaging directly with mothers, providing individualized nutrition counselling, to offer practical advice to support the improvement of their childrenโs nutritional status.
Day 1 concluded with the students and RNDs, LC-BSND Practicum Coordinator Ms. Czarina Pia Ong-Geroy, RND, MPSM, and Nutritionist-Dietitian II of LGU Opol Ms. Deanne Ritz Lloren, RND, gathering for an internal feedbacking session. It allowed students to immediately process observations and receive feedback from their professional mentors.
๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ: ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ-๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
The SFP Unit of DSWD Region 9 joined the teams for a benchmarking activity. While the Region 9 contingent was mainly present to observe and document the successful implementation strategies, our LC BSND students and DSWD Region 10 RNDs continued their active fieldwork. The teams traveled to other Child Development Centers (CDCs) in Opol, ensuring comprehensive coverage for monitoring, nutrition education, and nutrition counseling.
The two-day activity culminated in a closing conference and feedbacking session that included the DSWD SFP Unit of Region 10 and Region 9, the Lourdes College 4th Year BSND Students, LC โ BSND Program Coordinator Ms. Remedios Montaรฑo, RND, MAHE, and representatives from the Local Government Unit of Opol. This allowed the multi-sectoral review of the program, welcoming the perspectives and comments from all present.
๐ผ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ช๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ฉ๐
Coming fresh from their Public Health Nutrition internship, this two-day immersion was invaluable to the LCโBSND Seniors. It not only reinforced the technical skills acquired in the classroom but also enlightened the students on the complexity and collaborative spirit of public health nutrition. The students returned with a deepened commitment to utilizing the science of nutrition for the betterment of the community.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the DSWD Region 10 Supplementary Feeding Program Unit, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development of Opol, and the Local Government Unit for making this a truly enriching and transformative learning experience.
