Barangay nutrition scholars (BNSs), while being community-based volunteers, are assured of their tenure and should not be replaced every time there is an election of new local government officials.
Assistant Secretary of Health Maria-Bernardita Flores, also the National Nutrition Council executive director, said Wednesday they have worked with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which came up with a circular that provides that BNSs shall retain their status despite the conduct of elections and even when new local officials assumed their elective posts.
“NNC and the BNSs have invested a lot on their capacity building, training, and their connection with communities they serve. It assures the continuity of the provision of health services,” Flores said in a press briefing held as part of the 4th National Conference of BNSs National Capital Region and South Luzon Cluster in Baguio City on Aug. 30 and 31. The BNSs are members of the LuzViMin BNS Federation Inc. composed of more than 44,000 BNSs nationwide.
“BNSs are trained, already known to the families in respective communities, and are those who are able to convince them to practice that would improve and maintain their health,” Flores added.
She said a best practice in nutrition efforts that should be shared and emulated by other local governments is the assurance of some local chief executives that no BNS will be changed during their tenure.
In Congress, several bills have also been filed in the House and Senate that strengthen barangay nutrition scholars as permanent service providers.
BNSs as service providers have been created in 1978 through Presidential Decree 1569. Among the concerns raised by the BNSs are the lack of permanency of tenure as they are easily replaced by the local government, limited benefits with some receiving from monthly honoraria from P100 to P1,000 and other benefits.
Jocelyn A. Luma-ad, president of LuzViMin BNS Federation, said while DILG circular has already been cascaded to all barangays and their members, there are some who are still concerned they may still be removed due to politics.
She said the federation also advised BNSs to take a leave of absence during election period so that they would not be used by candidates on soliciting votes on the ground where they work and known to voters. – Hanna C. Lacsamana, Baguio Midland Courier
