Negros Occidental Governor Joins Community ‘Deep Dive’ to Address Child Malnutrition
News | by Krizzia Esperanza
San Enrique, Negros Occidental family case highlights multi-generational malnutrition challenges
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson participated in a community immersion activity in the municipality of San Enrique on September 8, 2026, meeting directly with a family whose child was identified as severely acutely malnourished.
The Deep Dive activity formed part of the Nutrition Leadership and Equity Acceleration Program, implemented by the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) in partnership with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental.
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During the debriefing session, participants reviewed the case of the child in the family who recorded a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of 11.5 centimeters, placing them under severe acute malnutrition. Dr. Ma. Ayessa Hugnatan, Provincial Health Officer I and Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, recounted the family’s situation: the household includes grandparents and two siblings of the mother who have mental health conditions and are unemployed. The child’s father and grandfather, both manual laborers, serve as the family’s sole earners.
“For me I would admit that this is the first time I joined a Deep Dive activity wherein I faced the mother concerned and learned about the family,” Lacson said. “Hope to see this become a benchmark to focus our attention on malnutrition so we can solve this issue.”
San Enrique Mayor Jilson Tubillara acknowledged the financial constraints facing the municipality, describing San Enrique as the “poorest town” in the area. He directed the Municipal Health Office to develop a nutrition program and the budget needed to sustain nutrition interventions. “This opened our eyes also that we have to do something about this problem so this will not happen again,” Tubillara said.
ZFF Chairman Dr. Manuel Dayrit traced the family’s vulnerability across generations. He noted that the presence of two siblings with mental health conditions already signaled a household at risk, a family in “chronic acute distress.” Dr. Dayrit advised, “Continuous monitoring would help. Observing the phenomenon changes the phenomenon.”
The Deep Dive involved a visit to the family’s home followed by a debriefing session attended by provincial and local officials, health and nutrition workers, and ZFF representatives. The activity aimed to deepen ownership of the malnutrition problem among leaders—a core principle of ZFF’s Bridging Leadership Framework—by grounding them in the lived realities of the communities they serve.
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The Nutrition Leadership and Equity Acceleration Program (NutriLEAP) is a capacity-building initiative by ZFF, supported by the League of Provinces of the Philippines, to improve nutrition outcomes in provinces nationwide. It strengthens leadership and governance against malnutrition by equipping governors and their teams to assess local nutrition systems, identify gaps, engage stakeholders, and implement sustainable actions. By fostering accountability and collaboration, NutriLEAP helps local leaders turn goals into lasting change.
