The Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) of NCR, Inc. in partnership with the National Nutrition Council-NCR held its 2019 Barangay Nutrition Scholars' Regional Conference with the theme, "Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay...push natin 'to!" at the Grand Ballroom of the Century Park Hotel, Manila on November 22, 2019. Three hundred forty-four (344) BNSs from the seventeen (17) local government units in Metro Manila attended the event. This year’s conference focused on the First 1000 Days of life.
The conference was graced by Taguig City Councilor for Health Pammy Zamora representing Taguig City 2nd District Congresswoman Lani Cayetano as the keynote speaker. She acknowledged with gratitude all the BNSs in Metro Manila for their invaluable service as frontline nutrition workers in the barangays.
Regional BNS Federation President Ms. Mary Grace Tamayo welcomed all guests and participants. NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ms. Mila Federizo reiterated in her message that the BNSs are the living heroes of nutrition or “Bayani ng Nutrisyon”. According to RNPC Federizo, the regional conference aims to make the BNSs appreciate deeply their important role in making sure that the package of programs and services during the First 1000 Days are made available and accessible in the barangays to prevent stunting. She also underscored the importance of improving their skills in advocacy particularly in “selling” the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition or PPAN to the barangay officials for funding and program support, and in documenting their activities and accomplishments. She encouraged them to take the opportunity to meet BNSs from other cities/municipality and strengthen bonds of friendship during the conference. She ended her message with the inspiring words from Mother Teresa, “Not all of us can do great things but we can do small things with great love”.
The outgoing officers and board members of the Federation were also given Certificate of Appreciation during the conference and the new set of officers and board members for 2020-2022 took their oath officiated by RNPC Federizo with Councilor Zamora as witness.
The conference had the following topics ably discussed by the invited guest speakers: Roles of BNS in the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act (Ms. Jana Marie Culla, NNC-Nutrition Policy and Planning Div.); From National to Local: Translating PPAN to actionable programs in the barangay (Ms. Pamela Gonzales, BIDANI or Barangay Integrated Development Approach in Nutrition Improvement); Essentials of Good Documentation (Mr. Daniel Salunga, NNC-Nutrition Surveillance Div.), and Mental Health in the Community (Ms. Arnee Reyes, National Center for Mental Health).
BNS Federation President Tamayo and Treasurer BNS Rossana Jacinto also presented their respective annual reports during the conference. The Synthesis was presented by Las Piñas City BNS Olive Tomas while the Closing Message was delivered by Municipality of Pateros BNS and Conference Chair Juliet Ramos. A fund-raising raffle activity was held at the end of the program for the outreach activities of the BNS Federation. (MABRM/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)
