The inter-agency Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) of the National Capital Region successfully conducted the local government nutrition monitoring and evaluation more commonly known as the Monitoring Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) Pro despite the pandemic. The MELLPI Pro was conducted from June 15 to September 10, 2021, to assess the LGUs’ nutrition program implementation in 2019. The RNET had its deliberation meeting on the MELLPI Pro results on September 15, 2021. A total of fifteen (15) LGUs in Metro Manila, except the cities of Marikina and Mandaluyong, participated in the MELLPI Pro.
It may be recalled that during the early part of this year, the LGUs in NCR through their Nutrition Action Officers pushed for the deferment of the MELLPI Pro due to the 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) but later on, decided to participate in the MELLPI Pro after careful consideration on the importance of assessing their local implementation of the PPAN and ensuring safety of their nutrition workers and members of their local nutrition committees (LNCs) (https://www.nnc.gov.ph/regional-offices/luzon/national-capital-region/5231-ncr-lgus-to-push-through-with-conduct-of-mellpi-pro-this-year).
In consideration of the community quarantine restrictions and for the safety of the RNET and the LNCs, a blended mode of doing the MELLPI Pro activities was adopted in NCR. The RNET conducted the desk review face-to-face while the interviews with the local nutrition focal point (LNFP) as part of the search for the Nutrition Action Officer of the Year, Local Nutrition Program Coordinator of the Year, and the Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (ROBNS) were done online. The written examination for the BNSs vying for the ROBNS was also administered online. The feedbacking of the MELLPI results to the LGUs will likewise be done virtually. Prior to the conduct of the MELLPI Pro using the blended mode, the NNC-NCR oriented the LGUs and the RNET on how the activities will be done using the MELLPI Pro tools and with the modified scheme.
Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) Chair and Metro Manila Center for Health Development Regional Director Dr. Gloria J. Balboa expressed her happiness on the LGUs commitment to participate in the MELLPI Pro and NCR RNET’s modified way of doing the MELLPI Pro. “Even if we are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, we also have service continuity plan. Hindi lang naman COVID ang iniikutan ng buhay natin. While COVID-19 is our priority, we should not forget other activities that we need to do because these are also equally important like the conduct of this MELLPI”, RD Balboa said during the RNC meeting held on June 10, 2021.
In the blended mode of doing the MELLPI Pro, the LGUs submitted pertinent reference documents at least five (5) days before their scheduled desk review. The desk review was done face-to-face by the RNET at the Boardroom of NNC Central Office in Taguig City. The RNET members observed the health protocols during the face-to-face desk review and were provided with face shield, face mask and alcohol by the NNC-NCR. A city/municipal nutrition program coordinator was also present to answer queries from the RNET, when needed. Various means of communications such as Facebook messenger group chat with LNC members, SMS, phone call, and email were used by the RNET in communicating with the LNC members for any clarifications regarding their documents.
The conduct of the MELLPI Pro in the new normal is indeed challenging and not easy, but with the LGUs’ unwavering commitment and cooperation, the RNET was able to fulfill its tasks of assessing the LGUs’ performance in nutrition and mentoring the LNCs on how to improve their nutrition programs to achieve nutrition improvement.
Written by:
Nutrition Officer III Emerenciana L. Francia and
Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo
