A review of the NCR Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) Resolution No. 2 series of 2017, “Enjoining all Local Government Units (LGUs) to strengthen programs and projects in support of the First 1000 Days (F1K) by allocating funds therefore and for other purposes” was held online on October 19, 2021. The policy review was done to determine if there is a need for further policy actions on the implementation of the F1K Program in the region. The virtual policy review was participated in by the members of the RNC, Regional Nutrition Management Group (RNMG), and representatives from the 17 LGUs composed of Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs), Medical Nutrition Program Coordinators and City/District Nutrition Program Coordinators (C/DNPCs).

One of the important functions of the RNC is to issue policies/resolutions that serve as policy instruments for member agencies and local nutrition committees in implementing their nutrition programs. RNC resolutions are also used as basis in crafting regional and local policy issuances in support of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN). The RNC-issued resolutions are reviewed to assess the attainment of policy objectives, document learnings gained, and provide recommendations to address challenges/issues in their implementation.
“Ang mga polisiya ay dynamic kaya kailangan ma-review and ma-revise if needed, to be responsive to the nutrition situation and to the challenges in their  implementation”, explained NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo.  

This year, the focus of the review was the Resolution enjoining all LGUs to allocate budget to strengthen programs and projects on the First 1000 Days.  Part of the policy review was the conduct of a quick survey and getting client feedback from NAOs and C/DNPCs. A pre-workshop meeting was conducted on October 14, 2021 to orient the respondents in accomplishing the online survey questionnaire and client feedback form.   

The data gathered were then consolidated and presented during the workshop held on October 19 as part of the policy review process. During the workshop, the participants were divided into groups and reviewed further the RNC resolution by answering a set of guide questions. The workshop outputs were then presented during a plenary session.

The recommended actions identified during the policy review include the monitoring of the LGUs’ F1K Program by NNC-NCR and local F1K monitoring teams, adoption of and compliance to RA 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Magnanay Act and elevating the RNC Resolution to the Metro Manila Council for adoption.

“The results of this policy review will help the RNC in crafting policies that are relevant and useful to help LGUs and partner agencies implement responsive nutrition programs to improve the nutrition situation in Metro Manila”, NPC Federizo added.

The RNC through the NNC-NCR being its Secretariat needs to conduct policy review annually to assess and recalibrate its policy issuances developed 3-5 years ago, as needed. 

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