One of the enabling programs of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 is the mobilization of LGUs for delivery of nutrition outcomes: reduced wasting (“payat”) and stunting (“bansot”) among children under-five years old, reduced deficiencies in vitamin A, iron and iodine and reduced prevalence of overweight and obesity.

The National Nutrition Council recognizes the key role of local government units (LGUs) as prime movers of the PPAN. On August 23, 2019, around 80 participants composed of local chief executive, vice mayor, city nutrition action officers (CNAO), city councilors, members of local nutrition committees, DILG city/municipal directors and representatives, nutritionist-dietitians and members of the Regional Nutrition Committee gathered together for an LGU Mobilization Forum organized by NNC-NCR. The forum held at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City became an avenue for sharing good practices of selected LGUs implementing quality nutrition programs.

In her opening message, NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa Federizo challenged the participants to take the leap for nutrition improvement by scaling up the implementation of the PPAN nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs as well as enabling programs in their localities. “Let us scale up our efforts in saving children from stunting and other forms of malnutrition, and, help more families become food secure to be able to break free from the bondage of poverty and malnutrition,” RNPC Federizo said.

Director Perla Upano of the Department of the Interior and Local Government – NCR reminded the LGUs the need to plan, invest, and implement quality nutrition program to address all forms of malnutrition to ensure that people enjoy long and healthy lives.

Mr. Cecilio Adorna, a consultant of NNC, Nutrition International and UNICEF, encouraged the LGUs to invest in nutrition especially during the first 1000 days of life. “Our actions in the first 1000 days will determine our contribution to development of our children, their families, communities and the nation,” Mr. Adorna added.

During the sharing of good practices, CNAO Rosalie Sto. Domingo of San Juan City emphasized the importance of making local nutrition committees both at the city and barangay levels active and functional for better implementation of the PPAN. On the other hand, Malabon CNAO Melissa Oreta recommended partnering with the private sector to generate and mobilize more resources for the conduct of nutrition and nutrition-related programs.

Highlight of the forum was the sharing of Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi who underscored the importance of political leadership in the implementation of the PPAN and investing in nutrition as part of good governance. He made sure that their nutrition program remains a priority of his administration by integrating their local nutrition action plan to the executive-legislative agenda (ELA), comprehensive development plan and annual investment plan.

All LGUs in Metro Manila are being mobilized by NNC-NCR to scale up the implementation of PPAN with focus on the first 1000 days of life to reduce stunting and other forms of malnutrition. (TAR/ELF/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)