The mobilization of LGUs for nutrition outcomes is one of the enabling programs of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 that aims to transform priority areas nationwide to areas that deliver nutritional outcomes during the six (6) year period of the PPAN. The PPAN is the government’s framework in addressing the problem of malnutrition in the country.
As part of the LGU Mobilization Initiatives of the National Nutrition Council (NNC), NNC-NCR conducted a Local Nutrition Action Planning Workshop for priority local government units (LGU) in NCR on May 22-26, 2017 at Tagaytay City. The identified priority areas in NCR are the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas Valenzuela, San Juan, Parañaque and Municipality of Pateros.
Twenty-five (25) members of the local nutrition committees of the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and San Juan attended the 5-day live-in planning workshop. The workshop aimed to enable the participating LGUs to formulate their respective three-year City Nutrition Action Plans (CNAP) aligned to the PPAN 2017-2022. Parañaque City and the Municipality of Pateros already had their local nutrition planning workshop in 2016.
The workshop was facilitated by NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa Federizo, Nutrition Officer III Emerenciana Francia, Nutrition Officer II Theresa Rivas and a member of the Regional Nutrition Management Group, Ms. Marlene Navarro of Grace Family Helper Project.
Lecture-discussions and workshops were done to enhance the knowledge and skills of the participants in assessing their local nutrition situation, identifying and planning appropriate nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions as well as enabling programs. They also planned their monitoring and evaluation activities as part of their CNAP. Guide questions and matrices were provided to the participants to facilitate their group discussion and guide them in the workshop.
Workshop outputs were presented in plenary and critiqued by facilitators and participants themselves. This allowed the participants to learn from the points of view and experiences of fellow participants and facilitators.
Participants also prepared their LGU re-entry plan detailing the activities that they will do after the workshop. They need to finalize their respective CNAPs and ensure its approval and integration to the local development plan and annual investment plan.
In her message during the closing program, RNPC Federizo expressed her hope that the participants will not falter in their commitment once they return to their respective offices. “Be the agents of change in your respective localities, help improve the functionality of your city nutrition committee and its nutrition program management,” RNPC Federizo added. (TAR/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)
