In preparation for the upcoming Regional Nutrition Shepherding Project, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) XII spearheaded the virtual orientation for the Regional Nutrition Shepherding Team (RNST) last April 20-21, 2022, via Zoom teleconference it was participated by the RNST members from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Commission on Population (PopCom) and Save the Children.

The two-day orientation aims to orient the team on establishing and implementing the project, priming the Regional Nutrition Shepherding Team, and skills in persuasion and management of difficult situations. The discussions of the orientation focus on the following sessions: (1) Mobilization of Local Government Units for Scaled Up Nutrition Actions, (2) Key features of the Nutrition Shepherding Project (3) Prioritizing Nutrition and Local Development Planning, Investment Programming, and Budgeting (4) Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court Ruling and EO 138 (5) Effective learning through Shepherding. Further, the team was able to select the Chair and Vice-chair of the shepherding team and planned and finalized the schedule, including the upcoming activities and nutrition shepherding.

Nutrition Shepherding is a platform that involves guiding and mentoring low-performing LGUs by a Regional Nutrition Shepherding Team (RNST) to enhance their knowledge and skills in nutrition program management. There are two (2) pilot areas identified in SOCCSSKSARGEN namely the municipalities of Antipas in Cotabato Province and Sen. Ninoy Aquino in Sultan Kudarat.

RNPC Laquihon looks forward to a strengthened RNST that will collaboratively assist and provide necessary support and technical assistance to the targeted LGUs in managing their nutrition program effectively and efficiently geared towards the improvement of the local nutrition situation. She also hopes that the Nutrition Shepherding project will be sustained and eventually cascaded and adopted at the LGU level that will greatly contribute to the region’s institutionalization of the nutrition program.(LFU/AMF/RML)