The officers and board members of the City/District Nutrition Program Coordinators (C/DNPC) of Metro Manila Association together with National Nutrition Council – NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa Federizo and Nutrition Officer II Theresa Rivas visited the Municipality of Pulilan, Bulacan for their annual Technical Exchange and Team Building on September 12-14, 2019. The Municipality of Pulilan in Bulacan is a Nutrition Honor Awardee since 2007.
The Association conducted the two (2) activities in Pulilan, Bulacan with the theme “One Team. One Goal. Together as ONE!”. It was participated in by eleven (11) C/DNPCs from the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela, Marikina, San Juan, Makati, Manila, Pasay, Paraňaque and Quezon City.
The group was warmly welcomed by the members of the Pulilan Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) headed by Municipal Administrator Vicenta Santos on behalf of Mayor Ma. Rosario O. Montejo. Focal person on Nutrition Ms. Cristina De Jesus presented the municipality’s nutrition programs and projects emphasizing the need for continuous coordination and good relationship with other member agencies of MNC in order to implement good and effective nutrition programs.
Being a technical exchange, NCR CNPCs Maria Teresa Abando (Caloocan), Femilina Tuazon (Makati) and Anthony Benabese (San Juan) also shared some good practices in nutrition program implementation in their respective LGUs.
CNPC Abando shared their city’s First 1000 Days Ordinance crafted in partnership with Save the Children. The ordinance, in support of Republic Act 11148 or “Kalusugan ng Mag-Nanay Act” known as the First 1000 Days Law, ensures the allocation of budget to programs and services for pregnant and lactating mothers and children below two years old. On the other hand, CNPC Tuazon highlighted the establishment of the Makati Human Milk Bank – the first and only LGU-run community-based human milk bank that provides breastmilk for infants who are sick or born prematurely.
In addition, CNPC Benabese shared their city’s 3G Club Project which stands for “Galing at Gandang Ginang ng San Juan”. The project aims to ensure that the child gets the best nutrition during the first 1000 days of life by providing mothers good maternal care during pregnancy and lactation, promoting exclusive breastfeeding and proper complementary feeding, and providing essential health care to both mother and child.
The group also visited Barangay Tibag where they met the members of the barangay nutrition committee headed by Brgy. Chairperson Renz Bryan Esguerra. They also visited the Bulacan Business Conference 2019 in Malolos showcasing the various delicacies and products of Bulacan and the whole of Region 3. The tour ended with the visit to a Heritage House, Casa San Francisco.
The learning visit is conducted yearly to provide the C/DNPCs the opportunity to gain insights and new learnings from an outstanding local government unit (LGU) in nutrition program management. (TAR/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)
