Baguio City – Regional Nutrition Committee-Cordillera Administrative Region (RNC-CAR) geared up for 2021 during the 1st Joint RNC and Regional Technical Assistants on Nutrition (RTAN) virtual meeting held March 23, 2021. The body firmed up policies and plans of actions amid the COVID pandemic in 2021.
The body firmed up a policy to address issues on the calibration of weighing scales; They are calling on the provinces to procure test weights and identify a calibration focal person from the provincial health office to be trained by DOST. The schools are also enjoined to make verification/validation of weighing scales be part of their school improvement plans.
The body also approved the awardees for the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (RNAC) 2021 which includes high performing LGUs and Nutritional Focal Persons such as Nutrition Action Officers, LGU Nutrition Coordinators and barangay Butrition Scholars to be identified based on the results of the monitoring and implementation of Local level Plan Implementation using the revised tool ( MELLPI PRO); that will be conducted and based on 2020 Operation Timbang (OPT) plus results: LGUs with less than 10% prevalence in stunting among 0-59 months old; and LGUs with consistent decrease in stunting prevalence in the last three years.
Specific RNC supported technical assistance activities for the provinces of Abra and Apayao were also approved.
The body also agreed to make an appeal to provinces and cities to strengthen nutrition programs under the implementation of the Supreme Court Ruling on the Mandanas case. The implementation of the SC ruling is expected to provide substantial increase in the IRA of all LGUs.
In addition to agreements on the above action points for 2021, NNC CAR presented the conduct of the MELLPI PRO and requested agencies to updated RPAN targets for 2021 and 2022. DOST ARD Pita Picpican also presented the “Pagbabalik ng Nutri-bun” while other agencies to include POPCOM and DSWD gave some udpates on their programs.
NNC-CAR Nutrition Program Coordinator (NPC) Rita Papey presided over the meeting in lieu of Department of Health-CAR Regional Director Ruby C. Constantino who had to attend another urgent concern. The meeting was participated by 23 RNC and RTAN members from 8:30 AM to 11:45 AM.
/SBC/BMB/RDP
