On May 24, 2019, the LGU mobilizers/shepherds of NCR attended a capacity building activity spearheaded by the National Nutrition Council – National Capital Region. This activity aims to enhance the knowledge of the participants in mentoring and mobilizing Local Government Units for the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).

The participants were oriented on the Shepherding Project as well as their roles and responsibilities. The legal framework of managing nutrition program, key functions of LGUs in the planning and management of nutrition and related programs based on different legislations/policies, the structure for coordination for the PPAN, link of the local nutrition action plans to national nutrition plans, situating the nutrition program management (NPM) in the Local Development System and steps and activities in NPM were also discussed. These topics helped them appreciate the need to empower the LGUs being the key implementers of the PPAN.

The LGU mobilizers are also members of the Regional Nutrition Management Group who will act as ‘shepherds’ of the priority LGUs with regard to their nutrition program management. Priority LGUs are determined based on the guidelines of the Shepherding Project of the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC).

The Shepherding Project started in 2012. Through this project, priority LGUs are provided assistance in formulating their Local Nutrition Action Plans and in organizing or revitalizing their Local Nutrition Committees. In 2017, the shepherding project was adopted as a strategy in mobilizing LGUs for the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) by the NNC. This year, eight (8) priority LGUs of the Shepherding Project will be visited by these LGU mobilizers or ‘shepherds’.

The ‘shepherds’ provide technical assistance to the priority LGUs concerning NPM and link them with other agencies for possible assistance; monitor the nutrition program planning and implementation of the LGUs; coordinate with NNC-NCR on the issues and concerns of the LGUs regarding local PPAN implementation; and report shepherding activities during the meeting of the RNC.

The newly-trained LGU mobilizers/shepherds are now ready and more confident to assist the LGUs for better nutrition program management (ELF/MEVF/NNC-NCR).