On January 16-22 and 26-27, 2021, the members of the City Nutrition Committee (CNC) of Makati gathered for an online planning workshop to formulate their local nutrition action plan (LNAP) for CY 2021-2022. It was a milestone both for NNC-NCR and Makati CNC as it was the first ever planning workshop conducted purely online via the Zoom platform in NCR. The workshop was attended by 16 CNC members and 7 members of the city nutrition secretariat.

The NNC-NCR team led by RNPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo assisted by NO III Emerenciana L. Francia and NOII Theresa A. Rivas conducted the online workshop using a combination of lecture-discussion, plenary session, and workshops using breakout rooms covering the following topics: (1) Why Invest in Nutrition; (2) Review of existing documents on city plans and budgets; (3) Formulating the nutrition situation analysis; (4) Inclusion of nutrition in the priority development challenges; (5) Setting outcome targets; (6) Crafting the PPAN-based program; (7) Defining programs and projects to achieve outcome targets; (8) Developing project briefs for integration in the NGA-mandated and other sectoral/thematic plans; (9) Estimating budgets for nutrition programs, projects and activities.

Through these sessions, the participants realized the need to invest in nutrition and the importance of putting nutrition concerns in the priority development section of the City Development Plan (CDP) to ensure budget allocation for nutrition programs and projects. The participants focused particularly on addressing stunting, wasting and overnutrition problem in the city, putting emphasis on the First 1000 Days program.

In her opening message at the start of the 6-session online workshop, RNPC Federizo expressed her hope that through the planning workshop albeit done online, the city nutrition committee will be able to formulate a nutrition action plan that will be truly responsive to the nutrition situation of their city. She emphasized that the local government units (LGU) are the key implementers of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) which is the country’s blueprint in addressing the problem of malnutrition. “Sa ating mga LGU nakasalalay kung paano maiimplement ang PPAN programs”, NPC Federizo said. She also stressed the need to integrate their LNAP in their Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) and Annual Investment Program (AIP).

Although the conduct of this online planning workshop was a bit challenging, the cooperation and participation of the members helped them to produce a good draft of their LNAP 2021-2022. The CNC will have follow-through meetings to work on their draft LNAP and finalize it in time for the budget planning and preparation of the city government on the second quarter of the year.

The current pandemic poses restrictions on face-to-face group gatherings, but this did not stop the NNC-NCR and Makati CNC in crafting of their LNAP through an online workshop. “Kapag gusto, magagawan ng paraan” (If there’s a will, there’s a way). NNC-NCR encourages other LGUs to do the same and ensure the integration of their LNAP in their local budgets and investment program.

Authors: NO III Emerencia L. Francia and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo