One Vision, One Province: Governor Leads Dinagat Islands Toward Zero Malnutrition
For Dinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey Jr., addressing malnutrition is more than a health agenda; it is a leadership imperative.
“The issue of stunting and malnutrition is close to my heart,” he shared as provincial and municipal leaders gathered under the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF)’s Nutrition Leadership and Equity Acceleration Program (NutriLEAP) to confront one of Dinagat Islands’ most pressing development challenges.
The conversation came at a critical time. Despite recent progress, Dinagat Islands continues to face significant nutrition challenges. Provincial data revealed persistent concerns with stunting, wasting, and emerging overweight trends. Gaps in nutrition service coverage, shortages in health personnel and commodities, and infrastructure challenges affecting access to safe water and sanitation further compound the problem.
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Yet rather than focusing solely on the numbers, Governor Demerey used the opportunity to unite mayors, government agencies, legislators, and development partners around a common purpose.
With ZFF’s Bridging Leadership approach, the Governor facilitated a dialogue that moved leaders beyond individual mandates toward collective ownership of the province’s nutrition future. The session encouraged local chief executives to openly discuss challenges within their municipalities, identify opportunities for collaboration, and commit to concrete actions to accelerate nutrition gains across Dinagat Islands.
The dialogue revealed a shared determination among local leaders. Municipal priorities ranged from adolescent maternal nutrition and stronger health investments to improved health infrastructure, expanded nutrition programming, and sustainable financing. While each municipality faced unique challenges, all shared a common aspiration: achieving zero malnutrition.
Governor Demerey recognized this alignment as a powerful demonstration of collaborative leadership. “Our vision by 2028 is to achieve zero malnutrition across Dinagat Islands. Solving it once is not enough; we must sustain the gains,” he emphasized.
To support this vision, the Governor committed to establishing a Provincial Nutrition Office, strengthening nutrition information systems, and building the capacities of parents, caregivers, and frontline workers. These actions will help ensure that nutrition efforts are not only implemented but sustained through stronger systems and governance.
More importantly, the engagement demonstrated how provincial leadership can serve as a catalyst for change. By creating a space where mayors collectively examine challenges, align priorities, and hold one another accountable, Governor Demerey transformed a routine consultation into a platform for co-ownership and co-creation.
As participants reflected on the day’s commitments, a shared understanding emerged: nutrition is not the responsibility of a single office, sector, or local government unit. It requires the combined efforts of leaders, implementers, communities, and partners working toward one goal.
In Dinagat Islands, that goal is clear: a province where every child has the opportunity to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential, and where achieving zero malnutrition becomes a shared responsibility embraced by all. Through Governor Demerey’s leadership, that vision is steadily becoming a collective movement.
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The Nutrition Leadership and Equity Acceleration Program is a capacity-building initiative designed to improve nutrition outcomes in provinces across the Philippines. Developed by the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) with support from the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), NutriLEAP focuses on strengthening leadership and governance in the fight against malnutrition. The program equips governors and their teams to assess local nutrition systems, identify gaps, engage stakeholders, and implement strategic, sustainable actions. By fostering accountability and collaboration, NutriLEAP helps local leaders translate goals into lasting change.
Photos from: Nilo P. Demerey Jr. via Facebook