The Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC)-Cordillera passed a resolution requesting the National Nutrition Council to urge Congress to update Presidential Decree 1569, or the strengthening of the barangay nutrition program as this is already outdated having been issued in 1978.
RNC-CAR Resolution 5 s. 2016 seeks for the inclusion in the PD the provision of a Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) in every barangay and providing funds thereof, and amendments on the provision on BNS benefits.
Regional Nutrition Program coordinator Rita Papey said BNSs greatly contribute to the implementation of the nutrition program at the barangay level, being the frontliners in providing nutrition services and related services such as community health, backyard food production, environmental sanitation, culture, mental feeding, and family planning.
They are volunteer workers whose incentives depend on the initiative of the local government units with some BNSs receiving nothing at all, Papey said.
At present, the NNC provides BNSs a transportation allowance of P15 per month, which was increased to P50 per month in 2015, an amount that is too small considering the present standard of living and cost of transportation such that only a few LGUs like Baguio City and just 32 percent of the municipalities in CAR having availed of said financial assistance.
Among the proposed provisions for inclusion in the said PD are BNSs as full-time and salaried workers; provision of security of tenure; development of a ladderized education module for BNSs; and Civil Service eligibility equivalent to second grade after the completion of at least two years of continuous and satisfactory service in the barangay.
Other requested benefits are burial assistance of at least P20,000; monthly allowance based on the capacity of the LGUs; health insurance coverage with no-balance billing arrangement; scholarship grant for the BNS or immediate family member; conference fees including related travel expenses and awards for outstanding and long-serving BNSs.
Said resolution was endorsed to the Regional Development Council Cordillera for appropriate action. Maria Aprila W. Cruz
