Get to know Region X’s Local Nutrition Action Officer (C/MNAO) of the Year for 2019!

Cagayan de Oro City’s Nenita Fuentes Rabe, RND, MPA, a full-time CNAO for five years leads the City Nutrition Office (CNO) for nutrition improvement in all 81 barangays.

The CNO’s vision is to have a well-nourished and healthy Kagay-anons, which corresponds to their mission, which is to sustain effective and efficient nutrition program management through active collaboration among stakeholders leading towards a nutritionally productive citizenry. Being the head of the city’s nutrition frontliners, CNAO Rabe is committed to making this vision come true.

As a nutrition mover despite having several barangays—both in urban and hinterland areas— CNAO Rabe supervises all Barangay Nutrition Committees (BNC) through her City Nutrition Program Coordinators (CNPC). Aside from mobilizing the barangays, she also makes sure that nutrition is included in the city LGU’s priority development plans through her active involvement in planning workshops and constant coordination with concerned offices. This ensures that the legislative and executive branches of the LGU have a common agenda in terms of programs to be implemented, and budget allocation for nutrition.

To add, CNAO Rabe is hands-on during the CNC’s planning workshops so that nutrition actions and budgets are in place and aligned with the national and regional nutrition priorities.

The combination of the efforts of CNAO Rabe, the CNC, and the BNCs resulted to the reduction of malnutrition prevalence in the city from year 2018 to 2021, based on the Operation Timbang Plus results.

CNAO Rabe pointed out that the most important function as C/MNAO is coordination with all members of the CNC, and even those private entities and non-government organizations (NGO). The said coordination from their end resulted to increased resources for nutrition program implementation.

She oversaw the execution of numerous initiatives in collaboration with stakeholders such as Teenage Buntis Congress, Hakab Na 2019, Hilot Livelihood and Massage Therapy trainings, among others, which benefited the recipients, particularly the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS). The CNO collected ₱3,185,000.00 funds for nutrition from private sectors and NGOs.

One of the highlights of CNAO Rabe’s accomplishments was her contribution in the formulation of the city ordinance regarding the BNSs’ benefits and incentives, registration and accreditation, and appointments. Authored by Dr. Maria Lourdes S. Gaane, City Councilor and Chairperson of the Committee on Health the Ordinance No. 14031-2021: “An Ordinance providing Guidelines for the Registration and Accreditation of Cagayan de Oro City Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and BNSs; Granting them additional benefits and incentives and for other purposes” was approved in 2021. In line with this, CNAO Rabe is also part of the Screening Committee tasked to recruit and evaluate the performance of BNSs to be registered and accredited as city-paid BNSs.

CNAO Rabe was also President of the Nutritionist-Dietitians’ Association of the Philippines – Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City Chapter for the year 2017 to 2019. Likewise, she also serves the NAOs in Region X as Auditor of the Nutrition Action Officers Association of the Philippines (NAOPA), Inc. – Northern Mindanao Chapter.

With her consistent efforts and dedication of putting nutrition in the forefront in Cagayan de Oro City, she was awarded as the Local NAO of the Year!

CNAO Rabe once said that, “All department or agencies are supportive in nutrition and the CNO is closely coordinating with them. I see to it that they are not just members of the committee, but they also have a role in nutrition. I ensure that we have camaraderie since it facilitates communication and teamwork.” (NO I Vazamija Therese A. Villasi).