6 February 2014 – The National Nutrition Council at the National Capital Region has announced the schedule of the annual Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) during the meeting of the Association of the City/District Nutrition Program Coordinators of Metro Manila held at the Amphitheater of the DOH-Center for Health Development-NCR in Mandaluyong City. The MELLPI is conducted yearly by the inter-agency Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET).  This year's Chair of the RNET is Ms. Lorna Cruz of the DILG-NCR with Ms. Marlene Viray-Navarro of Grace Family Helper Project as Co-Chair.

The MELLPI is a system established by NNC in 1978 for monitoring & evaluating the local level plan implementation.  It aims to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of local governments in planning and implementing local nutrition programs. The RNET will conduct the MELLPI in the 17 LGUs in NCR from March to April of this year to assess the local PPAN implementation in 2013.  The 17 LGUs were informed of the specific date of the MELLPI visit in their area. 

Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo during the meeting underscored the importance of the MELLPI as a strategy in strengthening the local nutrition programs as it allows the local nutrition committees (LNCs) to identify areas for improvement based on the results of the MELLPI. The MELLPI also serves as an opportunity for mentoring the LNCs and in advocating for continuing support to the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition. 

The local nutrition program coordinators led by the Association President Eileen S. Guevara expressed support and cooperation in the forthcoming MELLPI.