Representatives from the local government units (LGU) in the National Capital Region (NCR) visited Taguig City on October 11, 2019 to learn from the city’s good practices on nutrition program management as well as innovative projects on nutrition. Taguig City was awarded with the Nutrition Honor Award (NHA) in 2019. The NHA is the highest award on nutrition given by the National Nutrition Council.
The learning visit was attended by 39 participants composed of city nutrition action officers (CNAOs), city nutrition program coordinators (CNPCs) and barangay nutrition scholars (BNSs) from the 15 LGUs in NCR except Caloocan and Las Piňas City. NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa Federizo and Nutrition Officers Theresa Rivas and Mary Agnes Beatrice Menorca facilitated the conduct of the activity together with the Taguig City nutrition secretariat. The learning visit was conducted by NNC-NCR as part of the LGU Mobilization strategy of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition.
The participants gathered at SM Aura, Taguig City where they were welcomed by City Health Officer Dr. Norena Osano together with City Councilor for Health Pammy Zamora and CNAO Julita Bernabe. CNAO Bernabe presented their good practices and innovative projects and answered questions from the group during the interactive session. The nutrition secretariat also showcased their documentation of activities and other reports.
The group also had a courtesy call with Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano. RNPC Federizo presented Mayor Cayetano with a certificate of appreciation and a copy of the Compendium of Action for Nutrition (CAN). She also thanked Mayor Cayetano for the kind hospitality and warm accommodation extended to the group during the learning visit.
The first stop of the tour was the Human Milk Bank located at Taguig-Pateros District Hospital. The group learned more about the Human Milk Bank operations and also on the hospital’s procedure in managing patients with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). They also had a tour at the Integrated Urban Farm and Center for the Elderly wherein they met Congresswoman Lani Cayetano and Vice Mayor Ricardo Cruz.
RNPC Federizo, in her closing message, challenged the LGUs to think out of the box, be creative and innovative in providing proper interventions to the beneficiaries in order to reduce hunger and malnutrition in the region. “Through the learning visit, I hope that you were inspired by what Taguig has accomplished and is continuously doing to improve their health and nutrition situation”, RNPC Federizo added. (TAR/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)
