6 May 2022, Cagayan de Oro City – In an effort to strengthen the functionality of the local nutrition committees (LNCs) and to scale-up nutrition actions in the remaining years of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) in the local government units (LGUs), the National Nutrition Council (NNC) X visited the LGUs of Baungon, Bukidnon Province, and Don Carlos, Bukidnon last 25 and 28 April and 4 May 2022, respectively to provide technical assistance and conduct an advocacy meeting with the members of the LNC.

NNC X’s Nutrition Program Coordinator Ms. Gladys Mae S. Fernandez spearheaded the activity together with Nutrition Officers (NOs) Sheena Marie G. Talle and Liezel Joy D. Reyes. A total of 12 Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) members from Baungon, 22 Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) members of Bukidnon, and 21 MNC members from Don Carlos were present during the technical assistance and advocacy meeting.

During the activity, NPC Fernandez gave the overview and the rationale of the activity, and also briefly introduced the NNC, its mandate, structure and major programs. This was followed by the presentation of the PPAN 2017-2022 priority programs by NO III Talle. NO I Reyes then shared the nutrition situation of the LGUs based on the Operation Timbang Plus (OPT) results from 2019-2021 and reminded them the roles and functions of the LNC.

Moreover, NPC Fernandez emphasized that the need to organize/re-organize LNCs, designation/appointment of Nutrition Action Officer and nutrition staff, formulating Local Nutrition Action Plans, and overseeing the implementation of the LNAPs, with focus on the First 1000 Days programs. NO III Talle then informed the LNC on the updates of the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) wherein she requested the LGUs to hold the monitoring and evaluation activities until such time that the updated MELLPI Pro tools are available for use. Subsequently, the LGUs presented their 2022 LNAP.

Further, NNC X lobbied for the creation of a local nutrition office, hiring of plantilla position for Nutrition Action Officers (NAO) and hiring of nutrition staff. In LGU Baungon, Municipal Administrator Engr. Ronald Zaniel Tabaranza noted the possibility of hiring a Nutrition Officer as MNAO and committed to incorporate the approved MNAP in their local development plans and investment programs. He pledged his support to the implementation of the nutrition program, projects, and activities (PPAs) in the municipality and will feedback matters discussed to Mayor Giovanni M. Dahino.

For Bukidnon province, Dr. Gary Guido Tabios, Jr. informed that they already proposed the creation of the NO V position but was not approved; he committed to explore another proposal for NO IV position to make sure that the management support for nutrition is strengthened through hiring of a full time PNAO.

Meanwhile, LGU Don Carlo already included in their Devolution Transition Plan the creation of the nutrition office, hiring of a plantilla position for NAO and nutrition staff.

Don Carlos Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer (MDRRMO) Mr. Windel Q. Caulin suggested for the establishment of a Nutri Hub in the municipality as one of the LGU’s initiatives in addressing the malnutrition problem. He further suggested to tap and capacitate local bakeries to become suppliers of the eNutribun. NNC X recommended for the MNC to benchmark with Maramag or Valencia City for the establishment of Nutri Hub and to coordinate with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Provincial Office regarding the technology adoption of eNutribun.

Overall, the LNCs expressed their gratitude to NNC X for conducting the activity, as the LNC members were capacitated and refreshed on the nutrition program implementation and committed to support the implementation and investments of the nutrition PPAs. LGU Don Carlos is one of the Nutrition Honor Awardees in 2002. Their LNC members agreed to reactivate their functions, sustain nutrition program implementation and innovate more programs and projects to address malnutrition.

NNC X assured the LGUs for the continuous provision of technical assistance to sustain the gains for nutrition and strengthen competencies and capabilities of stakeholders in the implementation of nutrition programs. (NO I Liezel Joy D. Reyes)