Baguio City - The National Nutrition Council-Cordillera Administrative Region (NNC-CAR), in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-CAR, conducted a two-day Regional Dialogue with Punong Barangays: Enabling Nutrition Devolution on November 23 and 26, 2021. Said dialogue was held via zoom and was livestreamed on NNC-CAR’s Facebook page.
The regional dialogue, a roll out of the Virtual Dialogue with Punong Barangays: Enabling Nutrition Devolution held on October 4, 2021 by the national offices of NNC and DILG, generally aimed to enhance further the awareness of Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition in the barangay, the roles and responsibilities of BNC members, and expanding contact points for investment in nutrition. These objectives were anchored on the recognition of the crucial role of the barangays in achieving the targets of the PPPAN 2017-2022, and on the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court Ruling in 2022.
The first day of the dialogue was a technical session. Ms. Bella Basalong, OIC-Nutrition Program Coordinator (NPC) of NNC-CAR lectured on “Usapang PPAN sa Barangay: Programang Pangnutrisyon, Gawing Mahusay” where she presented facts and figures on malnutrition and its effect to our country’s economy. She also underscored the roles of a Punong Barangay as Chair of the Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC), functions of the BNC, and the role of the youth in solving malnutrition.
Meanwhile, Atty. Noemi Humilde, Chief Budget and Management Specialist of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)-CAR, talked about “Bigger Budgets, More Investment for Nutrition: Devolution of Nutrition Services in Light of the Mandanas-Garcia SC Ruling”, highlighting that all LGUs are enjoined to prioritize in the allocation of local funds the PPAs included in their respective local nutrition action plans, which shall be formulated in accordance with the PPAN 2017-2022 as stipulated on Item 2.2.9 of LBM No. 82 dated June 14, 2021 and Item 2.2.8 of LBM No. 80 dated May 18, 2020.
Day 1 of the dialogue was also marked by the announcement for Group Workshop. The participants were instructed to accomplish Workshop Form 1 “Assessing Nutrition Programs in the Barangay”. The workshop form wass not intended to replace the MELLPI Pro.
The second day of the regional dialogue was an interactive session. It commenced with the Panel Discussion on Navigating Nutrition Programs in the Barangay. Punong Barangay (PB) Ricardo Mendoza of Pucsusan, Baguio City, PB Imelda Cawagdan of Poblacion East, Lamut, Ifugao, and Ms. Geraldine Cayat, President of the Cordillera Barangay Nutrition Scholars Federation, Inc. served as panelists. It was followed by the Presentation of Select Workshop Outputs by PB Lito Mateo of Basil, Tublay, Benguet and PB Rowena Gelisanga of Lourdes Subdivision Proper, Baguio City. The second day was also graced by the Statements of Support to Nutrition from invited guests.
With the regional dialogue, the Punong Barangays and the BNCs are challenged to be “idols” in improving the status of nutrition in their respective localities and step-up in their leadership especially in scaling-up nutrition programs in their barangays with the golden opportunity brought about by the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court Ruling.
SIMON B. COPEZ & BELLA M. BASALONG
