The Philippines often experiences natural disasters due to its geographical location.  Sadly, natural and human-induced disasters exacerbate hunger and malnutrition. Cognizant of the impact of calamities and disasters to the lives and well-being of Filipinos, the government adopted policy guides such as the National Policy on Nutrition in Emergencies and Disasters and Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. Regional and local nutrition clusters were organized and capacitated to prepare for, respond to, and manage nutrition in emergencies efficiently and effectively.

The NNC-NCR with funding support from the DOH-Health Emergency Management Bureau conducted two (2) batches of e-Learning Course on NIE-IM for the 17 Local Government Units of NCR on October 19-23, 26-30 and November 3-6, 9-11 and 16-17, 2020.  Ninety-four (94) participants composed of Nutrition Action Officers, Nutritionist-Dietitians, Health Officers and personnel, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development (C/MSWD) Officers attended and successfully completed the learning course conducted purely online using the Zoom video conferencing web application.

The resource persons and facilitators ably discussed the modules on disaster risk reduction management, nutrition interventions during emergencies i.e., Infant and Young Child Feeding, dietary supplementation, micronutrient supplementation, and Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (PIMAM).  Information Management was thoroughly discussed including the demonstrations on the use of IM tools. Exercises and workshops were also integrated in between the lecture-discussions to allow participants to apply the concepts and skills learned. The highlights of the workshop were the development of their LGU Disaster Risk Reduction and Management-Health-Nutrition in Emergencies (DRRM-H-NIE) Plans and exercise on Typhoon Case Study.

"The true measure of success of this e-Learning course is when all of you are able to apply what you have learned and you are able to do your roles and tasks in NIE and IM, the right way. We hope that because of your attendance and participation in this course, you as the members of your respective local nutrition clusters, can help and do your share in enabling your LGU to prevent, prepare for and respond well to emergencies and disasters, and undertake recovery and rehabilitation measures", NNC-NCR RNPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo emphasized in her message during the Closing Program of the course.

The prompt activation of local nutrition clusters and reporting on their nutrition responses during Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses were good indications that the participants have learned from the eLearning Course and are now better equipped to implement the Nutrition in Emergencies Program of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN. (DKFV/ELF/NPCMEVF/NNC-NCR).