Davao City Councilor Trisha Ann Villafuerte urged Dabawenyos to protect the environment in order to fight against malnutrition and create conditions where every family have access to safe, nutritious, and sustainable food as the city observes Nutrition Month 2026.
During her privilege speech at the Sangguniang Panglungsod, on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Villafuerte said that the environment and the health of the people are inseparable, noting that the food consumed by the public begins with the land that is cultivated, the water that is protected, and the natural resources that are preserved by the community.
She explained that nutrition is more than just about having a food on the table, it is about guaranteeing that every child can grow to their full potential, every mother receives proper nourishment, and every worker has the strength to remain healthy and productive.
“Nutrition is more than simply having enough to eat. It is about ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and develop to their fullest potential, every mother receives the nourishment she needs, and every worker has the strength to be productive. Despite years of interventions, malnutrition in all its forms remains a significant concern,” she said.
Villafuerte warned that malnutrition’s effects are most alarming among children, as poor nutrition in the early years impairs brain development and limits their full potential, compromising both their health and education.
“The effects of malnutrition are especially alarming among children. Poor nutrition during the early years of life can impair brain development, reduce learning capacity, and limit a child’s full potential. When a child is malnourished, it is not only their health that is compromised, but also their education,” she added.
In line with this initiative, the Davao City Health Office (CHO) rolled out a series of health and nutrition activities across the city for the celebration of Nutrition Month 2026.
The schedule of activities began with a launching of Nutrition Month at People’s Park on June 6, followed by the Buntis Congress in Binugao on July 7, and another session in Bangkas Heights on July 8. On July 9, the CHO also conducted a deworming activity at the V. L. Angliongto Sr. Elementary School.
The CHO also scheduled a Cardiovascular Disease Day in Bangkas Heights on July 17, followed by a Nutrition Month events at the DepEd Regional Office along Quirino and Barangay Langub on July 23, then a simultaneous activity in Binugao and 76-A Bucana on July 24, and another activity in Magtuod on July 28, 2026.
The month-long campaign is set to conclude with a grand culmination activity at Rizal Park on July 29, 2026.
She also encouraged Dabawenyos to take an active role in safeguarding the environment and to embrace healthier habits by choosing nutritious foods, supporting local producers, and cultivate trees and gardens.
“Let us encourage our constituents to make healthier food choices, reduce food waste, support locally produced food, plant more trees and gardens, and become active partners in protecting the environment that sustains us all. A healthy nation begins with healthy people, and healthy people depend on a healthy environment,” she added. CIO
Written by: N. Malasado
Edited by: A. Nawal