DR. MARCELA M. TINOYAN
Dr. Marcela M. Tinoyan of Tublay, Benguet was awarded as 2019 LNAO of the Year-CAR during the virtual 2021 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony on October 21, 2021.
“I did all things through Christ who strengthens me”. - Philippians 4:13
Challenging and fulfilling. These two words are how Doc. Marcela Tinoyan recounts her experience as the former Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) of Tublay, Benguet. It was challenging in a sense that she had to surmount herculean tasks along the way, but it was also equally fulfilling as she witnessed the empowerment of community people and stakeholders towards better nutrition outcomes. The added icing to the aforementioned “savory cake” are the recognition and accolades bestowed upon the municipality and barangays as best nutrition program implementers in the past years, and hopefully in the future.
Doc. Tinoyan was designated as MNAO on top of her core functions as a Municipal Health Officer. The designation carried no added remuneration as stated in the designation order. Being the lone municipal doctor who took charge of running smoothly the health programs and projects of the municipality was already a heavy responsibility. The added functions of an MNAO made the workload demanding. Furthermore, the local nutrition program management is not a core subject in medical school, so she expected to navigate strategies through personal study and initiatives.
Her involvement in the local nutrition program management in the municipality spawned valuable lessons that may inspire budding nutrition workers as well:
1.) Full grasp and understanding of the local nutrition program management including the mandated nutrition organizational set up with corresponding roles and functions. One cannot give what she does not have in the same manner as the LNAO cannot show optimum
performance if she does not have the technical expertise. This matter can be remedied by
personal readings/study and soliciting technical assistance from proper authorities. Commitment and willingness to learn are utmost important.
2.) Clarity of common vision, mission, goals and objectives. Nutrition goals are clearly understood by all stakeholders and recipients with a provision of a crafted doable framework and converging point. In the Municipality of Tublay, the “Tublay SHINES Plus” serves as their nutrition plan framework as well as collaborating point for inter -sector involvement.
3.) Awareness, adaptability and flexibility to the daily intricacies of the working environment or milieu within the whole local government unit and its appendages. The LGU is mandated to implement programs as provided for in the Local Government Code. Parallel to those mandates are various constraints such as inadequate funds, inadequate human resource, diverse priorities of stakeholders, simultaneous activities, contradicting schedules, etc. The LNAO should always be keen to make configuration with the constant objective to integrate nutrition promotion in most LGU activities at every opportunity.
4.) Mastery of the core skills of a program coordinator such as leadership skills, organizational skills, close attention to details, ability to plan ahead, ability to work under pressure, administrative and clerical skills, interpersonal skills, self-motivation and commitment. Nutrition program coordinator can easily surpass odds and constraints if these core skills are well developed in one’s profile. The ability to recognize talents and knowledge so that right people are placed together produces an effective team.
5.) Enjoy the navigational experience. There is no short cut nor boxed pathway tailored for all LNAO. Every working environment has its own unique set up, policies and preferences. Thinking outside the box is often the norm as one navigates the strategies in nutrition promotion. Just be ready to discover new learnings, experiences and even failures. Cherish the happy moments and be resilient from less successful events.
6.) It pays to reward diligent workers and partners. Since nutrition promotion is a multi-sector partnership, one strategy to motivate excellent work output is an expression of acknowledgement to committed workers and partners. An annual recognition ceremony may suffice. To maximize time and effort, nutrition related assessment may be integrated with other LGU programs. The Municipality of Tublay harmonized the nutrition program evaluation in the barangays with the indicators of the Seal of Barangay Good Local Governance project of DILG. Furthermore, certificates of recognition were awarded to NGO partners with nutrition related initiatives during foundation day celebration.
As of now, she is already retired from government service. Looking back, she can simply say that being an MNAO in the Municipality of Tublay, Benguet for a period of 13 years is one of her enjoyable and unforgettable life experiences.
“I acknowledge the full support and cooperation of my co-workers in the Municipal Health Office, colleagues, friends and the whole officialdom of the Municipality of Tublay. We journeyed together through thick and thin, through tears and laughter. I will surely cherish those memories,” she remarks.
