PALO, Leyte – Two days after the successful dialogue of Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator (RNPC) with Tanauan, Leyte DepEd official Principal Dorcas Mejia, a formal courtesy visit was made to Mayor Gina Merillo and her Municipal Nutrition Committee members.

Mayor Gina Merillo is a neophyte mayor but a 3-term board member of the 4th District of Leyte. As board member she occupied various committee chairmanships and memberships.

After the usual introduction, RNPC sets the tone of the orientation by giving copies of the NEOtrition guide to the mayor and to MNC members present. Result of the latest Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) Pro of which the municipality got a low score was discussed.

In spite the very low NELLPI Pro result, the RNPC still thanked the mayor and MNC members for the active participation and support during the regional validation.

Moreover, after discussing the MELLPI Pro result, the RNPC discussed the NEOtrition guide on how to make the MNC functional, make a 3-year MNAP to be integrated in the AIP and ultimately to the annual budget.

Some barangays of the municipality have two or three Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) which was supported by BNS honorarium in both barangay and municipal level. He also elucidated to the mayor the need to create a separate nutrition office with full time nutrition staff to manage the nutrition program implementation.

After all queries being asked and answered the RNPC handed over the PPAN LCE advocacy jacket and bag to the mayor. The RNPC also thanked Principal Dorcas Mejia of DepEd for bridging between LGU Tanauan and NNC8.

It is hope that with the leadership of Mayor Gina, the nutrition program management of the municipality will be improved. Investment on nutrition is of paramount importance. All of these will subsequently improve the nutrition status of the vulnerable sectors of Tanauan, Leyte. #RNPC-CPD