NGO partners in Metro Manila expressed their intent to scale up nutrition action in the region during the 2nd Regional NGO Forum entitled “Strengthening GO-NGO Partnerships in Metro Manila” held on July 30, 2015 at the Berjaya Hotel, Makati City.
Twelve (12) NGOs and five (5) member agencies of the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) attended the forum. Five new NGO partners from Muntinlupa Development Foundation, Odyssey Foundation, Child Fund, Ina Foundation and Letnuk Foundation were able to join the forum.
During the forum, Nutrition Officer III Emerenciana L. Francia presented the current nutrition situation in Metro Manila which showed that overweight and obesity is the leading problem in the region while Nutrition Officer II Theresa A. Rivas discussed the current efforts and recommendations to address the growing problem of overweight and obesity. NGO were also asked to locate in the NCR map where they are currently implementing their Program, Project and Activities (PPAs) and it was noted that among the 17 LGUs in NCR, no NGO who attended the forum covers Marikina City. It is noted that based on the 2014 Operation Timbang Plus (OPT+) results, highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in preschool children aged 0-71 months is found in the city of Marikina.
Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo described scaling up nutrition as a smart investment. Through the SUN movement, various sectors in the country from both government and non-government unite in a collective effort to improve nutrition. Participating NGOs shared possible ways on what they can do to scale up their nutrition projects and their need to link with other GOs and NGOs. Participants suggested meeting on a regular basis, not just in a forum, so that they can share their good practices and learn from each other’s experiences in their efforts to help improve nutrition situation in the region. NNC-NCR believes that NGOs have a vital role in shaping and implementing various nutrition programs at the community level and intends to intensify GO-NGO partnership in the region to scale up nutrition action in Metro Manila. (TAR/MEVF/NNCNCR)
