The Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) held its first meeting for CY 2015 on February 12 at Amigo Plaza HOTEL. RNC Chair Regional Director Marlyn W. Convocar, M.D., MPH, CESO IV of the Department of Health (DOH), Region VI presided over the meeting. It was attended by representatives from different partner agencies including Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD 6), Department of Education (DepEd 6), Philippine Information Agency (PIA 6), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 6), UPV-BIDANI, National Food Authority (NFA 6), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG 6), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE 6), Department of Science and Technology (DOST 6), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA 6), Western Visayas Nutri Media Circle (WVNMC). The presidents of Regional Federation of NAOs and Regional Federation of BNSes also attended.

After the discussion of topics on Nutrition Situation Update Report 2015 (OPT Plus Report 2014), Legal Mandates and Functions of National Nutrition Council, Roles & Responsibilities and Resolutions of RNC and the Thrusts and Directions of Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2014-2016, different issues and concerns were raised and given recommended actions.

Regional Director Convocar emphasized that nutrition interventions should be evidence based and must have formulated resolutions to be raised direct to SDC for immediate action. She added that RNC should have outputs such as special projects based on PPAN and to what RNC could do. Since RNC is composed of heads of major bureaus and agencies involved in nutrition, some members proposed their contributions.

RNC agreed to formulate resolutions such as the strengthening of DedED Order No. 8, s. 2007, Revised Implementing Guidelines on the Operation and Management of School Canteens in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools which include that the sale of junk foods, soft drinks, and any food product that may be detrimental to the child’s health and that do not bear the Sangkap Pinoy seal and/or did not pass BFAD approval is prohibited. It was also agreed that a letter be sent to governors regarding the deployment of BNSes in their area and to send letter to the Regional Directors of different government/non-government agencies especially the front line services such as PhilHealth, GSIS, SSS, etc. regarding RA 10028 “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act”. To strengthen promotion of RA 10028, RNC also agreed to draft resolution regarding adoption of the said republic act on terminals, fast crafts and ports.

As a special project, RNC agreed to have an Information campaign to a pilot community and school based in Hamtic, Antique considering that the province is rank number 1 according to prevalence of undernutrition among pre-school children in the region. PIA 6 offered to make a framework proposal of the said project to be reviewed on the next RNC meeting which will be on May 14, 2015.