True to its mission of providing its members with social benefits such as medical, retirement, and survivorship, the City/District Nutrition Program Coordinator (C/DNPC) of Metro Manila Association now provides medical assistance to members infected by COVID-19 virus.

In 2019, the Association has approved a resolution authorizing the provision of medical and survivorship assistance and retirement benefits to the members (http://bit.ly/CNDPCAssn_Reso1s2019). However, this resolution only authorizes the provision of medical assistance to members confined in a hospital.

Since many of the members contracted the COVID-19 virus, the Association through its Board of Directors unanimously agreed to provide medical assistance to all members who were hospitalized, quarantined at home or in an isolation facility due to COVID-19.

In 2020, a total of 12 C/DNPCs was given medical assistance by the Association amounting to P3,000 each.  As of June 2021, 4 C/DNPCs have been given medical assistance and 11 requests are still for approval. To avail of the medical assistance, a member should submit a copy of his/her medical certificate and confirmatory results of the RT-PCR test. The Association grants only one (1) request for medical assistance per member per year.

The Association allots 10% of its total fund for the members’ benefits.  However, due to many requests for financial assistance due to COVID-19, the Association will grant all requests even if the fund allotted for the members’ benefits has been exhausted. This will remain in force while the country is in the State of Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19.  This decision is supported by a Board Resolution approved on June 9, 2021. 

In her statement, C/DNPC Association President Ms. Joann Espiritu emphasized that nutritionist-dietitians are also considered as frontline health workers and are prone to contracting COVID-19.  “Buo ang suporta ng asosasyon sa lahat ng mga miyembro nito,” President Espiritu said. She added, “Nararapat na bigyang pansin at pasasalamat ang mga ND na buo ang loob at nagpakita ng dedikasyon at commitment sa kanilang mga tungkulin bilang ND sa kani-kanilang lugar dito sa NCR sa gitna ng pandemya".

A C/DNPC is a nutritionist/ND employed by a local government unit (LGU) and deputized as such to assist in the over-all coordination and management of the LGU’s nutrition program anchored on the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).

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