The National Nutrition Council (NNC) XII is stepping up its mobilization of Local Government Units (LGUs) by providing technical assistance in the form of mentoring, coaching, monitoring, and evaluation to enable LGUs to improve and sustain their local health and nutrition situation. Last April 26-27, 2022, RNPC Retsebeth M. Laquihon, NOIII Annalita Mae Flores, and NOII Leah Utlang facilitated the conduct of the Workshop for Local Nutrition Action Plan (LNAP) of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat.

Present during the workshop were members of the Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) which includes representatives from the offices of Agriculture, Social Welfare and Development, Budget, Planning and Development, Health, Nutrition, and Public Employment Service, as well as the Municipal BNS President, Day Care President, HRH-NDDP assigned and Ms. Lorelie M Resmundo, Development Management Officer of Provincial Department of Health Office (PDOHO) of Sultan Kudarat.

The team guided the MNC on the step-by-step process in the formulation of LNAP from identifying malnutrition problems to determining possible interventions aligned to PPAN programs to address their prevailing nutrition concerns. NNC XII also presented strategies on how to effectively collaborate and integrate nutrition programs, projects, and activities with other plans present in the local government most especially with the LGU Local Development Investment Program. The next steps include (1) advocacy of the nutrition program among the MNC chair and members particularly to the heads of the offices to fully understand and prioritize the nutrition program, (2) re-organization of the MNC with the issuance of Executive Order, (3) presentation and finalization and adoption of integrated MNAP, (4) issuance of MNC Resolution adopting or approving the MNAP and (5) capacity building among the barangay-based workers. The NNC XII will hold an LNAP Formulation workshop for other LGUs as well, mainly those who were included in the top 10 in the region with the highest prevalence of stunting, to provide technical assistance and necessary support in managing local nutrition programs efficiently and effectively, thus produce well-performing and empowered LGUs responsive in their local nutrition situation. (LFU/AMF/RML)