TACLOBAN CITY – In a bold move to address persistent malnutrition, especially among children, the provincial government of Samar has rolled out the “One Values Program”, a targeted nutrition initiative launched on July 4, 2025, in time for the observance of the 51st Nutrition Month.
The program provides P5,000 in cash assistance to each of the 119 identified families across the province, which they are encouraged to use in preparing nutritious meals for their children. The aid will be distributed over a 120-day period, allowing families to sustain healthier diets throughout the program duration.
Incentivizing positive outcomes, the provincial government has also announced a P5,000 reward for each child who “graduates” from the program—meaning they have reached a healthy weight by the end of the intervention.
Governor Sharee Ann Tan, in her address, underlined the vital role of parents in the fight against malnutrition. “We urge parents to take an active role in preparing healthy meals for their children. Good nutrition starts at home. Our goal is to reduce the number of undernourished children across Samar,” she said.
The One Values Program is also promoting food self-sufficiency through backyard gardening. Families are encouraged to grow their own vegetables and herbs, which not only provide a sustainable food source but also reduce daily food costs.
The provincial government has committed to working closely with local health workers, barangay officials, and the Department of Agriculture to support the gardens and ensure long-term success.
According to the latest National Nutrition Survey, parts of Eastern Visayas, including Samar, continue to grapple with high rates of child malnutrition due to poverty, limited access to healthy food, and gaps in nutrition education. This program aims to address these root causes through a holistic, incentive-based approach.
This year’s Nutrition Month theme, “Food and Nutrition Security Maging Priority! Sapat na Pagkain Karapatan Natin,” calls for government and community action to ensure that every Filipino has access to sufficient and nutritious food. Samar’s program is one of the concrete responses to this national call, demonstrating local leadership in tackling hunger and undernutrition at the household level.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
