Victor James “Tata” Yap, Sr.: Turning Reds to Greens

Mayor Victor James “Tata” Yap, Sr. of Glan, Sarangani, calls himself a “recycled” mayor. He held the position for three terms, served as vice mayor for one, and returned to the mayor’s office in 2022.

Glan, a coastal municipality, is the top producer of copra in Region 12. It spans 533.51 square kilometers with a population of 109,547 (2020 census), making it the largest and most densely populated in Sarangani. Under Mayor Yap’s leadership, Glan has made strides in health and nutrition, keeping malnutrition rates low.

When Mayor Yap first joined the Municipal Health Leadership Governance Program (MHLGP) in 2018, his goal was to improve Glan’s health outcomes. This program, part of a partnership between the Zuellig Family Foundation and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), was rolled out across Sarangani through the Department of Health.

One of his key initiatives from this journey was “Bahay ni Nanay” (Mother’s House), which provides pregnant women with food and medicine to ensure safe deliveries. “It was challenging because we are predominantly Muslim. ‘Pag buntis at manganganak na, sa Bahay tumutuloy, tapos iyong tatay ang nagluluto. Ito ang ginawa namin para ma-achieve ang zero maternal deaths.” (When the mother is pregnant and about to give birth, she stays in the Bahay, and the fathers do the cooking. This is what we did to achieve zero maternal deaths.)

Facing New Health Challenges

Re-elected in 2022, Mayor Yap faced new challenges in health and nutrition. The Municipal Nutrition Governance Program (MNGP), presented by ZFF, Sarangani’s provincial government, and the Department of Health, painted a stark picture. Glan’s health and nutrition indicators were mostly in red, reflecting poor performance in areas like leadership, human resources, and service delivery.

Mayor Yap initially thought malnutrition could be solved with feeding programs, but through MNGP, he realized the need for deeper, systemic change.

Eye-Opening Deep Dive

During the Deep Dive (guided community immersion) activity as part of the MNGP, Mayor Yap encountered a stunted child from a household that was not poor. This made him rethink his assumption that malnutrition was simply a poverty issue. The child’s mother, a solo parent, had stopped breastfeeding early and relied on the grandmother for caregiving. The mayor learned that improving nutrition goes beyond income—it requires understanding and addressing gaps in knowledge and care.

“No’ng nagsimula ako sa MLGP, sinabi kong gagawin natin ang lahat para wala nang mamatay na nanay dahil sa panganganak. Ngayon naman, bagong hamon ito sa akin, pero gagawin ko rin ang lahat para walang magiging stunted at tuluyang mamatay dahil sa malnutrisyon,” he said. (When I was starting in the MLGP program, I said I will do my best to ensure that no mother dies giving birth. This one is a new challenge for me, but I will do everything to ensure that no child becomes stunted and dies because of malnutrition).

Taking Action

Inspired to make a change, Mayor Yap created the Nutrition Officer III position to lead Glan’s nutrition efforts. He approved budgets for supplies, feeding programs, and training. Under his leadership, they launched “Munisipyo sa Barangay,” bringing health and nutrition services to remote areas, with a mobile clinic and 24/7 teleconsultation.

They also passed the FAITH (Food Always In The Home) Ordinance, promoting communal gardens in schools and barangays. Families with malnourished children received seeds, animals, and were prioritized for employment programs of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Progress and Reflections

During the Executive Session for Mayors under the MNGP, Mayor Yap proudly reported that 13 of Glan’s previously red indicators had turned green or yellow. He highlighted the establishment of a nutrition office and a position dedicated to nutrition, alongside efforts to integrate families of malnourished children into social protection programs.

“We need strong relationships between the barangay, the LGU, and all stakeholders to improve nutrition,” said the mayor. Referring to a child named Monera who died from malnourishment, he summed up the goal for the town: “Wala nang magiging Monera sa bayan ng Glan.” (No more Monera in Glan.)