Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza has expressed his support for the 2025 Nutrition Updating Survey now being conducted by the Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) in Catanduanes.
In the courtesy visit of the research team last Sept. 8, 2025, the chief executive emphasized the importance of updated and science-based nutrition data in guiding the province’s health and social development initiatives and underscored the provincial government’s readiness to collaborate with DOST-FNRI to ensure the successful conduct of the survey.
Headed by Project Technical Specialist IV Ms. Kathrina N. Almenic, the group formally presented to the governor the details of the 2025 Updating of the Nutritional Status of Filipino Children and Other Population Groups.
The study, which started in April and will end in December 2025, is being supported by Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Marites Curativo, Nutritionist-Dietitian Cherryl A. Tasarra, and Virac Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) Jocelyn U. Quiñones.
Almenic said the 2025 Nutrition Updating Survey has secured clearance from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The survey will cover 384 sample households in Catanduanes, while nationwide, it targets approximately 160,000 individuals from 42,800 households randomly selected from PSA’s population census.
Field researchers will collect comprehensive information on the socio-economic and demographic profile of households, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure levels, lifestyle indicators such as smoking and alcohol consumption, history of diseases and risk factors.
The survey will also collect data on food security status, and dietary practices. Moreover, it will also place emphasis on critical areas such as infant and young child feeding practices, maternal nutrition and health, and public awareness of government nutrition programs.
The data to be generated will serve as a vital basis for shaping national and regional nutrition policies, programs, and tools.
The study’s results will contribute to the Philippines’ efforts to meet the nutrition-related indicators of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).