Dr. Ariel I. Valencia, MPH, CESO III, the new Regional Director of the Department of Health – NCR Office, now takes the lead as the new Chair of the National Capital Region’s Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC). In a joint year-end meeting of the RNC and the Regional Nutrition Management Group (RNMG) held on 28 November 2014, Director Valencia formally accepted the chairmanship of the RNC and thanked everyone for the very warm welcome.
Director Valencia presided the meeting, assisted by RNPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo. Sixteen (16) member agencies were represented, namely: DOH-NCRO, POPCOM-NCR, DSWD-NCR, MMDA, DILG-NCR, PIA-NCR, DEPED-NCR, DA IV-A, Rural Improvement Clubs of the Phil., Hope for the Youth Foundation, Bantay Bata 163, Save the Children, Innerwheel Club of the Philippines, Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines, Grace Family Helper Project and the National Nutrition Council – NCR which serves as the Secretariat of RNC.
Discussed during the meeting among others were the draft RNC Resolution enjoining the LGUs to revive or create their Local Bantay Asin Task Force; expansion of membership of RNC-NCR; presentation of the 2013 OPT Plus Results to local CHOs; issuance of DepEd-NCR memorandum regarding the conduct of weighing in private elementary schools; monitoring of the status of implementation of RNC Resolutions; status of organization of Local Nutrition Clusters; creating a Regional Coalition of NGOs for Nutrition; approval of RNC Resolution No. 02 s. 2014 regarding the Creation of Regional Nutrition Cluster; and feedback on the Nutrition in Emergencies (NiEm) Training of Trainers and the FNRI 8th NNS Dissemination Forum. The RNC and RNMG also discussed the Guidelines on Local Nutrition Planning, Pinggang Pinoy and Ten (10) Kumainments as well as the 2014 Accomplishments of the RNC. The group also planned for the activities in 2015.
The joint year-end meeting of RNC and RNMG proved to be both productive and enjoyable since it also served as the Christmas party of the group. Before the meeting ended, Director Valencia thanked everyone for attending the meeting and the RNMG on the other hand, expressed their support to the leadership of Director Valencia. (TAR/MEVF/NNCNCR)
