An eight-hour trek through steep hills, muddy trails, and thick forests—this is the journey that the community of Brgy. Sebucal, Oroquieta City, takes just to access basic services.

Brgy. Sebucal, an Indigenous Peoples’ community nestled deep within a geographically isolated and disadvantaged area, is the farthest barangay in the city. Among its greatest challenges is the malnutrition among its children. Many of them were weak, underweight, and missing out on the energy and vitality that should define their childhood.

Everything began to take root when the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office X (DSWD 10) arrived—on foot, with dedication carried on the shoulders of staff, barangay workers, and volunteers who refused to let distance be a barrier.

“Dako mi og pasalamat kay tungod ani nga program [SFP], ang amoa nga mga kabataan, among nakita nga duna gyuy improvement… Sauna nga panahon, ang ilaha nga mga panlawas ug mga timbang, ubos kaayo dayon karon nga kani na nga program, medjo nag-anam2 nga mubalik gyud sa saktong timbang ug among mga kabataan, mukaon na sa insakto nga oras.” shared Brgy. Captain Henry D. Jumalon.

[We are very grateful for this program [SFP]. We have seen that our children have truly improved. In the past, their health and weights were very low, but now, because of this program, their weights are gradually returning to the proper levels. Our children are also now eating at the correct times because of this program.]

Over the course of 120 days, children were served warm, nutritious meals and underwent nutritional assessments. At the end of the feeding period, nine (9) out of the 15 children were no longer malnourished. For mothers who had once feared for their children’s future, this was a miracle. For the fathers who watched their kids regain energy and appetite, it was hope rekindled.

The fight continues for the remaining six (6) children who still battle malnutrition. They will be endorsed to the local government unit of Oroquieta City for continued support and intervention. Their families will also be prioritized for the DSWD 10’s Sustainable Livelihood Program.

Meanwhile, the initiative went beyond feeding. Children learned how to wash their hands and brush their teeth, simple yet powerful lessons in self-care. Parents, too, were equipped through nutrition education and counseling sessions, empowering them to sustain these improvements at home.

This victory in Brgy. Sebucal is a powerful reminder that every child deserves a chance to thrive, no matter how remote their home may be. With each step taken on that eight-hour journey, DSWD 10 affirms its relentless commitment to fight hunger, heal communities, and nourish the future of our nation—one child, one meal, and one heartbeat at a time.