As part of the LGU Mobilization strategy of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN), the National Nutrition Council – NCR conducted a Planners’ Forum on Nutrition: Integrating Nutrition in Local Development Plans and Budgets on September 10, 2019 at Richville Hotel, Mandaluyong City. It was attended by 30 participants composed of city/municipal planning and development officers and coordinators of the 17 local government units (LGU) in Metro Manila.
The forum aimed to increase the participants’ awareness and understanding of the alarming state of malnutrition in Metro Manila and in the country and develop strategies in integrating nutrition concerns in the local plans and budgets.
NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa Federizo encouraged the planning officers and coordinators to champion the integration of
nutrition in local plans and budgets in their respective localities. Many LGUs in NCR have already gained ground in the fight against malnutrition and these LGUs started by investing in nutrition as part of good governance.
“We hope that we can influence you to help us ensure that nutrition takes its position in the local development plans and budget to strengthen the delivery of effective nutrition programs for improved nutrition outcomes by the end of 2022”, RNPC Federizo said.
During the roundtable discussion, Director Josefina Faulan of MMDA shared that LGUs are mandated to align their programs with the Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2017-2022 which includes the nutrition challenges in the region as well as strategies to be undertaken in order to contribute to the PPAN outcomes.
In addition, Regional CDP Focal Person of DILG -NCR Ms. Jasmin Diaz said that the DILG together with MMDA ensure that the PPAN programs are mainstreamed in the various local development plan such as Gender and Development, local child protection council (LCPC), Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRM), among others.
Malabon City Councilor for Health Jose Lorenzo Oreta emphasized the importance of political commitment of local chief executives (LCEs) and legislators to win the battle against malnutrition. Passage of laws to address nutrition concerns, through resolution or ordinance, is necessary to secure proper funding.
Lastly, Chief of Municipal Planning and Development Office of Pateros Ms. Angelus Ponce, encouraged all planning officers to facilitate the integration of nutrition programs in their respective local development plans and budgets.
Participants identified concrete steps on how they will integrate nutrition in their respective local plans and budgets for CY 2020-2022 as part of their re-entry plans.
In her closing message, RNPC Federizo reiterated the need to mobilize the LGUs to contribute to nutrition outcomes as key to achieving nutrition improvements for the region and the country. She emphasized the need to adequately invest in nutrition for sustained local development. Lastly, she urged the LGU planning teams to integrate nutrition now, make it a priority development challenge, and implement programs and strategies towards the achievement of PPAN targets. (TAR/ELF/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)
