The National Nutrition Council – NCR (NNC-NCR) had a virtual meeting with Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TFCF) Philippine Branch on April 27, 2021 and linked them with the City Nutrition Office of Mandaluyong. This is part of the NNC-NCR’s continuing effort in strengthening the GO-NGO partnership for nutrition actions in Metro Manila.  The TFCF Philippines is a non-profit organization in Mandaluyong City which helps vulnerable children and families in Barangay Addition Hills as one of its service areas.

The meeting was requested by Ms. Monica Dolores, Social Worker of TFCF to consult with NNC-NCR regarding their Child Care Program which aims to improve the nutrition of children less than 2 years old. The meeting presided by NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa Federizo was also attended by Nutrition Officer II Theresa Rivas and Mandaluyong City Nutrition Program Coordinators Marie Tess Belo and Christine Gale Albaña.

Ms. Dolores introduced TFCF Philippines to the group and presented the goals and objectives, target beneficiaries and program components of the Child Care Program. She also presented the limitations of the program and the support that they need such as resource speakers in their nutrition education sessions on childcare and additional logistics for the general check-up of their beneficiaries.

RNPC Federizo, on the other hand, explained the coordinating structure of the NNC from the national level down to the barangays.  NGOs such as the TFCF are encouraged to work in coordination with the local nutrition committee in their program areas for collaboration and complementation of programs and projects. She also expressed NNC-NCR’s commitment to provide TFCF technical assistance and link them with their nutrition partners, if needed.

RNPC Federizo and CNPC Belo also gave inputs and recommendations on how the TFCF can improve their program and identified possible assistance that they can request from Mandaluyong City Nutrition Committee. The TFCF and Mandaluyong City Nutrition Secretariat agreed to have a meeting to discuss in detail how they can work together in integrating the TFCF Child Care Program in Barangay Addition Hills in the First 1000 Days Program of the barangay and of the city. RNPC Federizo is hopeful that TFCF can help more children and families in Barangay Addition Hills with the assistance of the city government of Mandaluyong.

Strengthening NGO-GO partnership in nutrition programs is an important strategy in ensuring convergence of programs targeting pregnant and lactating mothers, infants and young children and their families as beneficiaries, as this will result in better nutrition outcomes.


Written by: NOII Theresa A. Rivas and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo