The National Nutrition Council of the National Capital Region in partnership with the C/DNPCs of Metro Manila Association, Inc. conducted an orientation training on the use of the e-OPT Tool on February 01, 2017 at the NNC Board Room in Taguig City. 

A total of thirty-two (32) local nutrition program coordinators and a Barangay Nutrition Scholar from the seventeen (17) local government units in NCR attended the training. 

The Operation Timbang (OPT) is the annual mass weighing of all preschoolers 0-71 months old or below six (6) years old done every first quarter of the year. To facilitate the fast and accurate determination of the nutritional status of children, a computer-based (Microsoft Excel) tool initially called the “BNS Tool” was developed in 2010. However, through the years, some errors and limitations on the software were identified that resulted in the continuous enhancements done by the Nutrition Surveillance Division of the NNC. 

The invited resource speaker to train the participants was Dr. Raymundo Celestino F. Habito, the man behind the development of the e-OPT Tool. He discussed and demonstrated the new features and functions of the e-OPT Tool followed by hands-on exercises to familiarize the participants on how to use the tool. During the exercise, the participants raised several concerns and questions. Dr. Habito gave his commitment to consider the issues, concerns and suggestions of the participants and enhancing the e-OPT Tool accordingly. 

Dr. Habito customized the tool to meet the needs of Metro Manila considering its general population of more than 12 million. The tool also has to be adjusted to consider the unique settings in NCR with regard to the flow of data from the barangay up to the city/municipal level. 

NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo explained that the data generated from the OPT Plus should be accurate and reliable. The results of the OPT Plus are vital information for local nutrition action planning. Thus, the development of the e-OPT Tool will be very valuable in ensuring not only the accuracy of data but also allow a more faster processing and analysis of nutritional status data.

The e-OPT Tool will be used in processing the 2017 OPT Plus data in all the LGUs in Metro Manila.

(TAR/NPC MEVF/NNC NCR)