Majority of the LGUs in NCR will proceed with the conduct of the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) Pro this year as discussed during the online meeting of the Association of Nutrition Action Officers of NCR (ANAO-NCR), Inc. on April 28, 2021.

The MELLPI Pro is the monitoring and evaluation mechanism for the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) at the local level, which is the country’s framework for nutrition improvement.

It may be recalled that the NAOs have recently requested for the deferment of MELLPI Pro due to surge of COVID-19 cases in the region (https://www.nnc.gov.ph/regional-offices/luzon/national-capital-region/5190-ncr-nutrition-action-officers-push-for-deferment-of-mellpi-pro-due-to-surge-of-covid-19-cases). However, after thorough discussion with other NAOs and weighing all the concerns on the very challenging roles of nutrition workers in the current pandemic situation, the NAOs decided to participate in the conduct of MELLPI Pro.

“It’s true that this time is very challenging for all of us, but I think, it will not be a good impression for NCR if we postpone this year, I will volunteer our city to participate in the evaluation”, said ANAO-NCR President Chef Melissa Oreta. She further explained that she hopes that the situation will become better starting on the last month of the 2nd quarter and the MELLPI Pro will be conducted smoothly by then.  She calls for the support of all the LGUs on this activity.

The number of COVID-19 cases is not going down to what the experts are expecting but seeing the decreasing numbers to date, it can be presumed that the LGU’s continuing efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus have paved off. This could also be a good indication that nutrition services and activities can slowly be resumed with a little tweaking on how they should be done. The MELLPI Pro, an important activity in the PPAN implementation, can now also be done with some modification on its procedures considering the limitations and challenges of the current situation.

Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa Federizo explained that because of the limitations due to the community quarantine protocols, online mode will be adopted and not the usual face-to-face evaluation. The Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) will adjust accordingly to what the LGUs recommend for the successful conduct of this year’s MELLPI Pro. The RNET will use whatever is the most feasible means of communication during the desk review and interview/conference with the local nutrition committee. “I strongly recommend that we push through with the MELLPI Pro this year. The 2019 LGU performance in the local PPAN implementation needs to be assessed and areas for improvement need to be identified so that appropriate corrective measures can be done.  Also, we need to document and recognize the efforts of the LGUs in the PPAN implementation. We appreciate also how the NCR LGUs and their nutrition workers are really doing their best to implement PPAN programs amid the pandemic,” RNPC Federizo explained.

Responding to the call of the Association’s President Chef Oreta and RNPC Federizo, more NAOs expressed their willingness to participate in the MELLPI. They are also optimistic that the COVID-19 situation in their respective LGUs will soon improve and allow them to resume the conduct of nutrition activities that were temporarily set aside as their LGU focused on the COVID-19 vaccination program. 

As of this writing, 15 LGUs have committed to participate in the MELLPI Pro which is expected to happen from June to August this year. With the full support and cooperation of these LGUs, it is expected that the PPAN implementation in the region will continuously improve through the assessment of LGUs’ performance and mentoring through the MELLPI Pro.

Written by NOIII Emerenciana L. Francia and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo