Southern Leyte to implement "Sustansya Kini" program

The province of Southern Leyte will be implementing the "Sustansya Kini" program to help address the food needs, provide alternative source of food and improve nutrition of Southern Leytenyos living within and below the poverty line. “Sustansya Kini” program needs wide information at the barangay level with the target beneficiaries, advocating the proper waste disposal and segregating the biodegradable from non-biodegradable wastes, and making compost pit out of the segregated wastes which eventually produces organic fertilizer. "This can benefit the fruit/vegebale garden not only of the target households but thorughout the barangay/locality.' “Every household is mandated to plant vegetables within their area, while fruit and vegetable seedlings will be distributed by the host LGU through the Office of Agricultural Services, to be placed in a nursery and seed banks,” she disclosed.

The said program will focus on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), wasted children , among other families, as beneficiaries, to uplift their livelihood income and improve nutritional status, among others.

"The targeting system for the program's beneficiaries was also based on the Community-based Management System (CBMS) survey at the barangay level," Samaco added during the meeting held with the Provincial Nutrition Action Team, Thursday at Supercha Restaurant composed of different government agencies in the locality. "The Implementation of the project will be LGU-based," she added. It will be implemented at the barangay level assisted by their local government units, while the LGUs will be mandating all barangays with target households to adopt the solid waste segregation, establish and maintain compost pits and seed banks and communicate the “sustansya kini” project to all families with target beneficiaries and ensure program compliance of target households, Samaco said.

The provincial government through the concerned agencies in the locality will provide technical assistance through training and inputs assistance and monitoring, awareness building on monitoring and evaluation, among other assistance relative to the project.

It is expected that the impact of the “sustansya kini” program will be wide reached resulting to better health and nutrition and environmental protection. While the effect of the program at the household level will be food security, more savings and an additional income for the target families, Samaco added. The whole day activity hosted by the Provincial Health Services Office also discussed the 2011 Upgrading of Nutritional Status of Filipino Children and other Population Group , the 8th National Nutrition Survey 2013, Feedback on the 3rd Quarter Provincial and City Action Officers’ meeting and presentation of the Provincial Nutrition Council Annual Investment Plan 2014.