More than 200 City/Municipal/Barangay Nutrition Action Officers (C/M/BNAOs) participated in the 2nd NAOs Regional Conference in NCR held virtually on September 23, 2021, to get ready for the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia case which opens opportunities for strengthening the LGU nutrition program.
The virtual conference held jointly by the National Nutrition Council-NCR and the Association of Nutrition Action Officers of NCR, Inc. (ANAO-NCR) aims to inform the NAOs on how they can seize the opportunities that the implementation of the Mandanas Ruling brings as it will substantially increase the share of the local government units (LGUs) from the national taxes. This means that the LGUs will have more budgets for programs, projects, and services starting in 2022. The NAOs were encouraged to take advantage of the full devolution of certain functions of the Executive Committee Branch to the LGUs as stated in the Executive Order No. 138 s2021.
ANAO-NCR President CNAO Melissa S. Oreta of Malabon City in her welcome message highlighted the significance of the conference theme, “Scaling Up Nutrition Actions for Nutrition Improvement: I-PPANalo ang Nutrisyon sa Barangay”, in the view of the forthcoming full devolution of programs and services including nutrition. “The theme of our conference is timely as the topics will be very useful for us NAOs in advocating for nutrition. Bawat isa sa atin ay malaki ang gagampanan next year with the implementation of the Mandanas ruling. Whatever the environment is around us, ang maganda ay may mga taong dedicated and committed to continue our programs and our advocacy on nutrition”, CNAO Oreta emphasized.
NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo reiterated the important roles of the NAOs in pushing forward the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition or the PPAN which is the country’s framework for nutrition improvement. “Napakahalaga ng papel na inyong ginagampanan, aming minamahal na mga nutrition action officers upang patuloy na maisulong ang PPAN sa mga barangays. Kayo po ay ang mga bida sa nutrisyon. Kagaya ng mga barangay nutrition scholars, itinuturing namin kayong nutrition heroes”. She hopes that the NAOs will remain steadfast in their commitment in the fight against malnutrition even during this pandemic “Bagamat prioridad ng ating lokal na pamahalaan ang COVID-19 vaccination, umaasa kami na hindi ninyo hahayaan na mapabayaan ang mga programang pang nutrisyon sa inyong lungsod, bayan at mga barangay”, said NPC Federizo.
The participants were further inspired by NNC Deputy Executive Director for Technical Service Ms. Rita Papey as she urged the NAOs to look at the opportunities more than the challenges brought by the pandemic. "We must also look at the opportunities and not just challenges. You can either be disheartened by this adversity or take courage to go through it and be better. I believe that you will choose the latter. As nutrition action officers, you have crucial roles in managing nutrition interventions with the local nutrition committee towards nutrition improvement. Which is why I call on every nutrition action officer or NAO to act now! NAOs need to act now to champion nutrition in your respective local government units", DED Papey emphasized.
NPC Federizo in her presentation on the Mandanas Ruling: Opportunities for Strengthening the LGU Nutrition Program, explained why the NAOs need to ensure the inclusion of PPAN-based nutrition programs in the Devolution Transition Plan of the LGU and how the local PPAN implementation can be strengthened in the light of the Mandanas Ruling implementation. The NAOs can lobby for the allocation of adequate dedicated budget for local PPAN implementation focusing on the First 1000 Days, creation of permanent position for NAOs and Nutritionist-Dietitians, hiring of more BNSs, and creation of nutrition offices with separate budget and dedicated staff.
BIDANI University Research Associate Ms. Pamela Gonzales shared effective advocacy strategies and tips that could be used by the NAOs in selling the PPAN to their barangay officials, communities, and other partners.
A panel discussion was also held with Paranaque BNAO Joms Eugenio, Taguig BNAO Desiree Katigbak, and Mandaluyong BNAO Dr. Jo Panergo as the panel of discussants. They shared their PPAN-based nutrition and related programs and activities, strategies that they have done as BNAOs in pushing for the successful implementation of these programs, and their advice to their fellow BNAOs in scaling up nutrition actions in their barangays. The three (3) BNAOs also saw the opportunities that the implementation of the Mandanas ruling brings in strengthening their barangay nutrition program.
“At sa nalalapit na implementasyon ng full devolution bunsod ng implementation ng Mandanas Ruling, kailangan nating masiguro na hindi maiiwan ang nutrition sa Devolution Transition Plans ng inyong local na pamahalaan. Sama-sama natin i-PPANalo ang nutrisyon sa mga barangay para sa ating mga kabataan, para sa ating bayan”, NPC Federizo added.
The NAOs should be proactive and work toward strengthening their PPAN implementation in their city, municipality, or barangay. The nutrition programs particularly the critical nutrition interventions during the First 1000 Days should be included in their devolution transition plans. All NAOs are expected to act NOW and seize the opportunities the Mandanas Ruling brings to the nutrition devolution.
Written by:
Nutrition Officer III Emerenciana L. Francia and
Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo
