The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of many Filipinos. It has negatively affected the economy, food security and health systems of the country, among others. The enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) restricted the mobility of people, hampering their access to food and other necessities including health and nutrition services.

To understand the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the provision and utilization of routine nutrition services through the health system, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) with technical assistance from UNICEF Philippines developed a survey that covers questions pertaining to the capacity of Barangay Nutrition Scholars, nutrition services offered before and during community quarantine, nutrition services adaptation, nutrition information, education, and communication, and provision of food packs.

The online survey using a web application – Enketo and ONA is being conducted from January 2 to 15, 2021 nationwide, covering all cities and municipalities in the 17 regions in the country. Target participants of the online survey are Nutrition Action Officers, nutritionist-dietitians or focal person for the delivery of nutrition services in the city or municipality.  Only one respondent per city or municipality will be allowed to accomplish the online survey.

To prepare the respondents from the 16 cities and 1 municipality in Metro Manila in accomplishing the online survey, the NNC-NCR held an orientation for them on January 6, 2021 via Zoom. The virtual orientation was attended by thirty-one (31) representatives composed of 6 city nutrition action officers and 25 nutritionist-dietitians from the 17 local government units in the region. RNPC Mila V. Federizo and Nutrition Officers Meren L. Francia and Thesa A. Rivas served as the resource persons during the orientation.  Participants were oriented on the questionnaire and how to accomplish the online survey using the web application. 

“The online survey will yield valuable information on the how COVID-19 has affected the continuity of nutrition services in the country.  The survey results will be useful not only to NNC and UNICEF Philippines but to LGUs and other stakeholders as well, in planning for appropriate measures and adaptation strategies to counter-act the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the delivery of nutrition services in the country”, said RNPC Federizo.

As of this writing, all the 17 LGUs in Metro Manila have participated in the online survey using the Enketo survey form using the ONA platform.

(ELF/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)