In preparation for implementation of the Local Nutrition Early Warning System to as many areas in the country, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) is once again conducting a series of capacity-building activities among identified Local Nutrition Early Warning System core group of the next batch of (10) local government units. The recently conducted two (2) batches of municipal and city level training for the LNEWS core group is the second part of the capacity-building activities for these cities and municipalities. The Consultative-Workshop with individual cities and municipalities is the first part, conducted between May to August 2017.

Batch 1 of the city/municipal level training was conducted on 16-17 August 2017 in Pasay City for the following partner LGUs:

   1.   Bayambang, Pangasinan
   2.   Burdeos, Quezon
   3.   Bato, Camarines Sur
   4.   Bago City
   5.   Sagay City 

While Batch 2 of the city/municipal level training was conducted on 30-31 August 2017 in Davao City, for the following partner LGUs:

   6.   Alcantara, Cebu
   7.   Palompon, Leyte
   8.   Jose Dalman, Zamboanga del Norte
   9.   Magsaysay, Davao del Sur
   10. Jolo, Sulu 

The training included 12 technical sessions, from basic concepts of data collection, nutrition and nutrition-related data analysis, to maintenance of the food and nutrition security early warning system and the use of the automated data management system, including the OPT Plus automated tools. Participants include heads of offices of nutrition, social welfare and development, health, agriculture, planning and development, disaster risk reduction and management and the members of the local Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Panlungsod.    

Meanwhile, the third and final part of the series of capacity-building activities, the Training for LNEWS Data Collectors for these LGUs are already ongoing and are expected to conclude by end of September 2017. Participants include the Barangay Health Worker (BHW), Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and the Rural Health Midwife (RHM) assigned to the identified five (5) sentinel barangays of each of the 10 LGUs. Trained BHWs, BNSs and RHMs will be responsible for the quarterly collection of primary or household level data in their respective city/municipality.

This year’s expansion areas brings to 58 cities and municipalities, to total partner LGUs covered by the project to date.