Baricuatro allocates P140M for malnutrition, food insecurity program for Cebu

CEBU CITY-- Amid a sobering reminder of the structural hurdles facing public health in Central Visayas, Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro kicked off the province’s 52nd Nutrition Month celebration with an aggressive ₱140-million counter-offensive against child malnutrition and food
insecurity.

Announced on Wednesday, July 1, at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Grounds under the national theme “Nutrisyon at Kalikasan, Ating Pangalagaan,” the massive local government mobilization arrives just as newly released data underscores Cebu’s position at the epicenter of the region’s nutritional crisis.

According to the latest 2025 Operation Timbang Plus (OPT Plus) survey released by the National Nutrition Council (NNC)-Region VII, chronic malnutrition remains a deep-seated provincial battleground. While regional stunting rates (low height-for-age) showed a slight percentage decline to 6.33%, a staggering 40,674 children under five in Central Visayas remain stunted.

Due to its dense population, Cebu Province accounts for over half of these numbers, logging 20,664 stunted children—the highest volume of stunting among all provinces nationwide.  

Furthermore, the regional data tracks 18,735 underweight children with 8,672 in Cebu Province alone and 7,152 suffering from wasting or acute thinness. This nutritional deficit is compounded by severe systemic strain; the Expanded National Nutrition Survey reveals that 35.6% of households in Central Visayas suffer from moderate to severe food insecurity, eclipsing the national average of 31.4%.  

“If you ask me what kind of Cebu I dream of, my answer is simple,” Gov. Baricuatro remarked, visibly emotional as she marked her first year in office during the July 1 launch. “A Cebu where every family has the opportunity to live a healthy and dignified life. How can we talk about economic growth, quality education, and tourism if our people themselves are hungry and their bodies lack proper nutrition?”

Capitol's tactical blueprint

To actively reverse these metrics, Cebu Province rolls out a multi-pronged intervention strategy that targets both immediate hunger and long-term health stabilization:  ₱140-Million Feeding Allocation: an expansive financial package injected directly into community-level supplemental feeding.

The Mobile Kitchen Fleet: Seven state-of-the-art mobile kitchens scheduled for deployment across rural and vulnerable sectors this July to rapidly distribute hot, nutrient-dense meals.

Mass Micronutrient Campaign: A target distribution of 600,000 Vitamin A capsules and 300,000 iron supplements to Rural Health Units (RHUs) across every city and municipality in Cebu, directly intervening in the crucial early development phases of toddlers.

Capitol Piso Health Consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan underscored that the intervention represents a shift from passive health management to active governance. “Malnutrition is not only a health concern; it is a governance concern,” Catalan emphasized. “The data on malnutrition in Cebu is not something we can ignore; it should disturb us, but more importantly, it should move us to act.”

Model localities and health systems recognized

While the regional numbers present an uphill climb, the launch also celebrated local government units (LGUs) and medical facilities showing breakthrough success in managing community health profiles under strict guidelines.

The Municipality of Dalaguete took center stage, receiving a Plaque of Achievement as a 2025 National Nutrition Green Banner Seal of Compliance Awardee for its progressive grassroot nutrition models.

The Capitol also officially recognized municipalities and health offices that recorded the lowest stunting and maternal health risks based on the 2025 metrics:   Lowest Stunting Prevalence (OPT Version 1) went to Bogo City Health Office, Borbon RHU, Minglanilla RHU, San Fernando RHU, Naga City Health Office.

Lowest Prevalence of Nutritionally At-Risk Pregnant Women went to Oslob, Alcantara, Ronda, San Remigio, Cordova.  

Retaining mother-baby friendly status, 13 provincial and district facilities were lauded for successfully retaining their Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (MBFHI) status for 2025, ensuring that foundational nutrition—specifically early, exclusive breastfeeding—is guarded at birth. Cebu Provincial Hospitals (Danao, Carcar, Bogo, Balamban); District Hospitals (Badian, Tuburan, Oslob, Bantayan, Daanbantayan); Isidro C. Kintanar Memorial Hospital; Ricardo L. Maningo Memorial Hospital; Tuan B. Dosado Memorial Hospital and Jose Ma. Borromeo Memorial Hospital.

As Nutrition Month continuous through July, provincial health officials hope that Cebu's hyper-localized, heavily funded approach sets a benchmark for how local government units can actively reclaim the health and futures of the region's youth.