Advocacy is a key strategy in improving the implementation of nutrition programs of Parañaque City.
City Nutrition Committee (CNC) Chair Mayor Edwin Olivarez expressed his commitment to make Nutrition a priority concern of his administration when he first stepped into office in 2013. He designated his wife, Mrs. Janet Olivarez as the City Nutrition Action Officer. Since then, the CNC has been doing its best to meet the expectations of its Chair by planning and implementing a comprehensive nutrition program. CNAO Janet Olivarez oversees the activities of the CNC and ensures that it remains active and functional.
In 2016, the CNC with technical assistance from NNC-NCR, conducted a planning workshop to formulate their 3-year City Nutrition Action Plan (CNAP). The planning workshop not only led to the formulation of their CNAP but also made the CNC members closer to one another.
True to his commitment, Mayor Olivarez ensures that the Nutrition Program gets an increasing budgetary allocation every year and that the department heads who are members of the CNC are actively involved in the city’s nutrition programs and projects. Through the initiative of CNAO Janet Olivarez, the city government purchased two (2) mobile kitchens that are used during disaster or emergency situations in providing hot meals to evacuees. The CNC meets regularly, presided by CNAO Janet Olivarez.
The nutrition secretariat and the members of the CNC work together in advocating for nutrition support among the barangay councils. Their effort resulted in the increased nutrition budget in many barangays. Many barangays have active and functional Barangay Nutrition Committees (BNCs). The BNCs also prepare their annual Barangay Nutrition Action Plan (BNAP) following the guidelines in local nutrition planning with the assistance of the city nutrition secretariat.
The strong leadership of the Mayor Edwin Olivarez and active involvement of CNAO Janet Olivarez motivate the members of the CNC and the nutrition secretariat to work harder to achieve the goal of Mayor Olivarez of having zero-malnutrition in the city of Parañaque.
Written by: Ms. Valentina E. Encabo (Nutrition Officer III) and Ms. Mary Dancille D. Villarey (Nutritionist-Dietitian I) of Parañaque City
* Parañaque City was the recipient of the LGU with Continuous Improvement in Nutrition Program Management Award during the 2017 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (RNAC) on July 28, 2017 at Novotel Hotel, Quezon City.
* Article was included in the 2017 RNAC Souvenir Program
