Be one of the spoons – this is the National Nutrition Council’s call for action for nutrition improvement of the country.
The National Nutrition Council or NNC is the country’s highest policy making and coordinating body on nutrition. It was created on June 25, 1974 through Presidential Decree 491.
An interesting aspect of the NNC is its logo, which is a spoke of spoons. It symbolizes that we cannot improve the nutrition situation by spoonfeeding alone nor by the generosity of a single sector’s “spoon”. Solving the problem on malnutrition requires a collaborative effort, or a contribution from several “spoons”. It means creating and recreating ideas, seeking unity and a totality of approach for the improvement of Filipino lives.
The collaborative effort is reflected through the NNC’s Governing Board. The Governing Board is the collegial body that leads in the formulation of policies and directs the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).
The NNC Governing Board (GB) is composed of ten (10) government institutions and three (3) representatives from the private sectors appointed by the President of the Philippines for a two-year term:
- Department of Health (Chair)
- Department of Agriculture (Vice Chair)
- Department of the Interior and Local Government (Vice Chair)
- Department of Budget and Management
- Department of Education
- Department of Labor and Employment
- Department of Science and Technology
- Department of Social Welfare and Development
- Department of Trade and Industry
- National Economic and Development Authority
The Philippine Coalition of Advocates for Nutrition Security and Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development were appointed in 2017 as the two (2) private sector representatives to the NNC GB.
Aside from the formulation of the PPAN, the NNC is also in-charge of planning and implementing Tutok Kainan Program and Promote Good Nutrition and manage and coordinate the Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Program, Philippine Food and Nutrition Surveillance System and Nutriskwela Community Radio, among others. NNC also leads the celebration of the Nutrition Month every July.
Currently, the NNC Secretariat is headed by Assistant Secretary and Executive Director, Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang. The central office is located at 2332 Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Taguig City. The NNC has seventeen (17) regional offices across the country including the National Capital Region located at Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH) Compound in Mandaluyong City.
True to its mission, the NNC formulates nutrition policies and coordinate responsive, comprehensive and multi-sectoral plans and programs of national and local governments, and non-government organizations to improve the nutritional situation of all Filipinos. However, NNC cannot do this alone. Malnutrition is everyone’s business. Collaborative effort of all stakeholders from the national level down to the families in the barangays is needed for nutrition improvement.
Join the fight against hunger and malnutrition. Be one of the spoons!
Written by: NOI Janna Alexia Necio, NOII Theresa A. Rivas and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo
References: NNC website (www.nnc.gov.ph)
