The National Nutrition Evaluation Team (NET) convenes for its third and last general assembly of the year on 2 December 2021 via Zoom to deliberate the results of the evaluation for the Search for National Outstanding Local Nutrition Focal Points (LNFPs) who will be awarded in the upcoming National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (NNAC) based on their performance in the recently held monitoring and evaluation of local level plan implementation or MELLPI Pro.
The MELLPI Pro is an enhanced tool designed to monitor and evaluate the performance of local government units (LGUs) and local nutrition focal points in promoting nutrition security vis-à-vis nutrition outcomes. Pro because it is a Protocol, it is Promotive and Progressive, and is a more Professional tool. Its results aim to guide the local chief executives and other policy and decision makers in enhancing nutrition products, and delivery of nutrition services towards improved effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability.
Since the MELLPI was revived in 1997, it is always the LGUs and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) who were evaluated and awarded. This time, the LNFPs – nutrition action officers and nutrition program coordinators, will now be assessed for their nutrition program management and implementation in their respective areas of assignment. However, with the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MELLPI was postponed last year. Thus, 2019 will be the reference year for this year’s online evaluation.
In 2021, despite the restrictions, the MELLPI Pro is finally implemented and was joined by an interagency nutrition evaluation team, composed of 55 members representing 22 government and non-government offices. There are 21 LNFPs, including 6 BNSs, that were virtually visited and are vying for the first ever national awards. Here is the complete list of contenders and their respective area:
Prior to the conduct of the MELLPI Pro for LNFPs, the NET has also conducted online validation visits to 20 LGUs as potential Consistent Regional Outstanding Winners in Nutrition (CROWN) Maintenance and Nutrition Honor Award (NHA) areas from 12 regions last May to August 2021. Here is the full list of contenders:
|
Categories |
Region |
Area |
|
First year CROWN Maintenance |
MIMAROPA VI VII IX X XI |
Calapan City Ibajay, Aklan Carmen, Bohol Dipolog City Cagayan de Oro City Maco, Davao de Oro |
|
Second year CROWN Maintenance |
I I II CAR III III CALABARZON IX X XI |
Santa, Ilocos Sur Vigan City Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya Tublay, Benguet Mabalacat City Talavera, Nueva Ecija Biñan City Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay Misamis Occidental Polomolok, South Cotabato |
|
Nutrition Honor Award |
CALABARZON MIMAROPA X XI |
Kalayaan, Laguna Roxas, Oriental Mindoro Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon Tagum City |
LGUs and LNFPs who have shown exemplary performance in the MELLPI Pro and have met the minimum score will be declared as winners, as deliberated by the NET members and affirmed by the NNC Technical Committee. Official winners will be recognized in the upcoming National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony on 23 March 2022 at Hilton Manila. These year’s awardees are worthy addition to the roster of Nutrition Champions who prioritized nutrition to help combat all forms of malnutrition.
The National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony is an annual event led by the National Nutrition Council, usually held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City with an estimated attendance of 600 participants. Due to the limitations brought by the pandemic, the 2021 NNAC will be a hybrid event, where majority of the participants will be attending online, and select guests will be invited on-site.
Maria Camille Andrea L. Hari
