The City/District Nutrition Program Coordinators (C/DNPCs) of Metro Manila Association advocates for the achievement of food and nutrition security in the new normal during the 2022 Regional C/DNPC Conference held on December 7, 2022 via Zoom.

The conference with theme “Moving forward for better new normal in food and nutrition” was conducted by the C/DNPCs of Metro Manila Association in cooperation with the National Nutrition Council – NCR. It aimed to provide updates on different nutrition and related information on food and nutrition resilience in the new normal. It was attended by 131 nutritionist-dietitians from the 17 local government units (LGU) in NCR.

Topics discussed during the conference highlighted the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food and nutrition security and ways to move forward for better new normal in food and nutrition. Mr. Jefferson Gregorio, Nutrition Specialist from UNICEF Philippines, presented the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food and nutrition security in the global and local context. He emphasized that the pandemic has created an extraordinary crisis, but it also opened opportunities to do better.

Ms. Arlene Castro from Rise Against Hunger Philippines explained ways on how to achieve food security in the households through Food Banking. She emphasized that all stakeholders must work together to end hunger.

Lifestyle Medicine Specialist Dr. Dexter Macalintal enlightened the participants on the incidence of overnutrition as the new pandemic and the lifestyle changes that we need to adopt in the new normal to address Covibesity. Lastly, Ms. Mae Ann Javier from DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute also presented the salient features of the E-nutrition website, the data warehouse of the National Nutrition Survey accessible to the public.

In her keynote message, Hon. Virgith Buena, Chair of the Board of Nutrition and Dietetics of the Professional Regulation Commission, encouraged the participants to be more active as public health nutritionist-dietitians and do their share in mitigating the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pagdating sa nutrition programs, nutritionist-dietitians dapat ang nangunguna. Tayo ang frontliners,” Hon. Buena said. She added, “Together, let us improve food and nutrition resilience in the new normal.”

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