BAGUIO CITY-- After passing the “Competency Training on the Verification of Wooden Height Boards and Weighing Scales” conducted by the National Nutrition Council in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology – Metals Industry Research and Development Center, all the Cordillera Administrative Region participants namely Ms. Mary June A. Algarne (District Nutrition Program Coordinator, Abra), Ms. Glenda B. Benedito (DNPC, Abra), Ms. Amelia L. Cayap (Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, Benguet), Ms. Lordes P. Kinuh-ol (Rural Sanitary Inspector, Ifugao) Ms. Frances C. Sebastian (DNPC, Kalinga), Mr. Wilfredo B. Bilog (PNAO, Mt. Province), Ms. Corazon B. Cabanayan (DNPC, Baguio City), Engr. Angel L. Maguen (Science Research Specialist II, DOST-CAR), Ms. Bella M. Basalong (Nutrition Officer I, NNC-CAR) and Ms. Rose Lulu P. Pagaduan (OIC-Nutrition Program Coordinator, NNC Reg. I & CAR) are now certified to verify wooden height boards and weighing scales for use in the conduct of the Operation Timbang Plus, Growth Monitoring and Nutrition Assessment of the under five year olds and school children.

According to Ms. Hygeia Ceres Catalina Gawe, the Chief of the Nutrition Surveillance Division of NNC- CO, the NNC Governing Board Resolution No. 3, s. 2012 “Approving the Guidelines on the Fabrication Verification and Maintenance of Wooden Height Boards” and NNC Governing Board Resolution No. 2, s. 2008 “Adoption of New Child Growth Standards for Use for Children 0-5 years old in the Philippines” were the legal mandates that urged the verification of the measuring equipments used in the nutritional assessment of underfive children nationwide.

Moreover, OIC NPC of NNC Region I and CAR. Ms. Rose Lulu P. Pagaduan emphasized in her opening remarks that the training is very important to ensure the accuracy of collected data on the nutritional status of the children because it is the basis for nutrition program planning as well as in evaluating the impact of nutrition programs implemented.

The expert trainors from the DOST- MIRDC Engr. Rodnel O. Tamayo and Engr. Rommel N. Corona pointed out that the verification of the wooden height boards for height/length measurement and hanging scale and beam balance scales for weight measurement should be done at a specific point in time to confirm that it has not significantly deviated from its original calibrated value from the authorized calibration laboratory.

The competency training was conducted at Hotel Veniz, Baguio City on April 22, 2013 for the first batch attended by Region I and CAR participants while the second batch was held on April 23 ,2013 at the same venue attended Region II and III participants.