PALO, LEYTE – Amid the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Municipality of Hilongos, Leyte ventured to conduct the Workshop on Integrating Nutrition in the 2021 Annual Investment Program (AIP) on 11-12 August 2020 at the Hon. Loreto P. Lora’s Hall, Brgy. Western Poblacion, Hilongos, Leyte.

This year, each local government unit (LGU) is expected to finalize their scaled-up nutrition actions with corresponding budgets in their 2021 and 2022 AIP, based on the priorities of their updated Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP), Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), Local Development Investment Program (LDIP), with focus on the first 1,000 days and factoring the ongoing and post-pandemic situation.

Utilizing the blended approach, online and face-to-face, the two-day AIP workshop on nutrition was successfully delivered. Amongst the major PPAs included for the LGU’s 2021 AIP are Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (PIMAM), First 1,000 Days Program, Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Fisheries, and Livelihood and Employment Generation Programs, Enabling Program for Nutrition and National Government Agency (NGA)-funded programs. The activity was physically facilitated by RNPC Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr. and PNC Jennibeth Cañete with the support of the Regional and National Team of Planning Facilitators (RNTPF) of NNC and Alcanz International.

Guided by its vision “Soar High Hilongos”, Municipal Mayor and Chairperson of the Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC), Hon. Albert Villahermosa made it possible that nutrition programs, projects, and activities will be included in the 2021 AIP. The Honorable Mayor is hopeful that by the active participation and cooperation of the MNC and the Barangay Nutrition Committees (BNCs), the municipality will once be brought back to the top when it comes to nutrition program implementation.

In her message, Municipal Councilor and Chairperson Committee on Health, Hon. Bernadeth C. Moran-Nerves expressed that the output of the workshop would not just be a paper accomplishment, but it will be carried until the full implementation.

The Municipality of Hilongos is one of the four pilot areas of the Early Childhood Care and Development Program (ECCDP) in First 1,000 Days and with the Leyte Province as a Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) priority area under the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster (HDPRC). After Hilongos, schedules were set for other ECCD areas and LGU’s in the PPAN and HDPRC priority provinces in the coming days.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2018-42 dated March 26, 2018, all LGU’s are enjoined to prioritize in the allocation of local funds, the PPAs included in their respective local nutrition action plans which shall be aligned from the PPAN 2017-2022. #NASLabordo