As part of the monitoring of the Local Nutrition Early Warning System for Food and Nutrition Security (LNEWS-FNS) Project being implemented in the city of Navotas, the National Nutrition Council-NCR (NNC-NCR) conducted a virtual meeting (via Zoom) with the city LNEWS-FNS core group and household data collectors on January 20, 2022 from 9:00 am – 12:00 nn.

The LNEWS-FNS is a monitoring system which helps identify existing or impending problems related to food and insecurity, at the same time analyze the causes and plan for appropriate interventions.

The meeting was presided by NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ms. Milagros Elisa V. Federizo, assisted by LNEWS focal person Nutrition Officer II Thesa A. Rivas, and attended by 17 participants composed of city core group members and household data collectors from the five (5) sentinel barangays: NBBS, Tangos, Tanza, Daanghari and San Roque.

To prepare for the national program implementation review to be held tentatively this January, the group reviewed the usefulness of the LNEWS-FNS information that are being collected quarterly. Malnutrition and food insecurity-related issues and overall status were determined in terms of the following indicators: stability factors, food availability, household food access, community health status and nutritional status of children aged 0-59 months. These data are collected quarterly to determine the status of food supply and food security in the city. Actions and interventions done to address the identified issues were also documented.

The group also planned their LNEWS-FNS activities for 2022. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the city core group members and household data collectors commit to continue the implementation of the LNEWS-FNS in the city. Strategies in data collection will be adjusted considering the minimum health standards and quarantine level in the community.

RNPC Federizo thanked the group for their support to the LNEWS-FNS Project since it started in 2015. “Ang NNC-NCR ay laging nandito para sumuporta sa inyo. Patuloy po natin na pagtulungan ang mga programs ng PPAN, LNEWS-FNS, Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program at iba pang nutrition programs,” she added.

The NNC-NCR is committed to continue providing technical assistance to Navotas City in implementing the LNEWS-FNS project and all programs of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).

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