The Philippine Action for Nutrition (PPAN) is a framework that guides stakeholders on how to continuously contribute to the nutrition development of the country and how to continuously address the problems on nutrition. Multi-sectoral interventions are needed to address the multidimensional problem of malnutrition. Thus, it entails the government and private agencies, stakeholders, nutrition workers, and the community to enjoin in battling malnutrition.
Inter-agency Local Nutrition Committees (LNCs) translate the PPAN thru their local nutrition action plans conducted in their respective Local Government Units (LGUs).
Representatives from different local departments such as health, agriculture, social welfare and development, development planning and budget as well as national government agencies such as DepEd and non-government organizations operating in the area compose the local nutrition committee. The overall management and implementation of the local nutrition program are coordinated by the Nutrition Action Officer (NAO).
A functional Local Nutrition Committee (LNC) serves as the major nutrition body of the Local Government Unit. This is in accordance with the DILG Memorandum Circular 2018-42 1.4 which states that all LGUs should organize, reorganize, and strengthen functional local nutritional committees with the Local Chief Executive as the chairperson. It is crucial for LGUs to have a functional local nutrition committee so that the programs on nutrition will be efficiently and effectively managed and implemented.
The following are the functions of the LNC.
1. Provincial Nutrition Committee- prepares Provincial Nutrition Action Plan complementary to and integrated with other plans of the LGU and other higher-level plans; advocates for the adoption and financing of the plan; coordinates and monitors nutrition and nutrition-related activities; mobilizes resources to ensure the plan is implemented; conduct periodic visits and meetings with C/MNC and provide technical assistance; assesses the progress of plan implementation and recommends appropriate actions; monitors the performance of Municipal/Barangay Nutrition Plans; holds regular quarterly meetings to assess plan implementation; and introduces innovation in the management of the nutrition program;
2. City/Municipal Nutrition Committee- prepares City/Municipal Nutrition Action Plan; coordinates the implementation and monitoring of agency nutrition activities; conducts periodic visits and meetings with the BNC to assess the progress of program implementation; provides technical assistance to the barangays; and holds regular quarterly meetings.
3. Barangay Nutrition Committee- Assesses the barangay nutrition situation; formulates a Barangay Nutrition Action Plan; coordinates the nutrition activities of the barangay; organizes groups to implement nutrition intervention activities; assesses the progress of nutrition interventions; and holds regular quarterly meetings to monitor program performance.
The Nutrition Committee (provincial to barangay level) manages the nutrition program at the LGU level. Thru the LNC, the planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and coordination of the Local Nutrition Action Plan are achieved.
With this, the National Nutrition Council (NNC), is taking lead in developing and maintaining a system together with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the monitoring of functional local nutrition committees.
Source: Nutrition Program Management Manual
Bella M. Basalong
