Members of the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) enhanced their assessment skills during an orientation and planning for the 2015 Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) at the Pines View Hotel.

In preparation for the upcoming monitoring and evaluation, the team was oriented on MELLPI guidelines, updates and monitoring protocol, which provide insights and ideas on various validation techniques when conducting desk review of documents or interviews with local partners, conducting visits to project sites, and appropriate behavior as regional monitors.

Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Rita D. Papey said only areas with nutrition action plans can vie for the award as outstanding municipality in a province or region, outstanding city, and outstanding province.

However, the RNET visits provinces, municipalities, and barangays with no nutrition action plan for monitoring and technical assistance.

The evaluation will start on the second week of April and ends May 31.

MELLPI is a monitoring and evaluation system established in 1979 by the National Nutrition Council to assess the efficiency of local nutrition program implementation, measures changes in the nutritional status of children, determine the extent to which nutrition is integrated into local development plans and programs, and advocate for the continuing support for local nutrition programs.

Meanwhile, Candice Willy of the Department of Health and Eddison Baddal of the Department of Interior and Local Government were elected as this year’s RNET chair and vice chair, respectively, the NNC as the secretariat.

The RNET is composed of representatives from the different government agencies and academe. Maria Aprila W. Cruz