Members of the NCR Shepherding Team made a year-end visit to Caloocan City and Quezon City on December 9, 2022 to assist in the mobilization of local nutrition committees as part of the Shepherding Project activities for 2022.

The Regional Nutrition Shepherding Team (RNST) composed of Ms. Maria Elena Navarro, Executive Director of Grace Family Helper Project with National Nutrition Council - NCR (NNC-NCR) technical staff, Ms. Meren Francia and Ms. Thesa Rivas participated in Caloocan City’s BNC Mobilization Forum. The forum was attended by punong barangays, sangguniang barangay members leading the committee on health and women, children and family, and other members of the barangay nutrition committees from 125 barangays in the city.  

During the forum, Development Management Officer II Rivas oriented the participants on the nutritional challenges present in the country and the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) that layouts the targets, directions, and priority actions to address all forms of malnutrition. Nutrition Officer (NO) III Francia explained the coordinating structure for the implementation of the PPAN and how the BNC can make PPAN work for nutrition improvement. On the other hand, ED Navarro shared the good practices and lessons learned from outstanding LGUs that were previously assisted by the RNST.

The RNST with the addition of ARD Mary Jane Casimiro (Commission on Population and Development – NCR) and Ms. Gelaine Louise Gutierrez (Philippine Information Agency – NCR) met with members of the Quezon City Nutrition Committee (QCNC) in the afternoon. The QCNC was led by focal nutritionist-dietitian, Ms. Marivic Perlada.

Being the first meeting of QCNC with the RNST, ED Navarro explained the rationale and mechanics of the Shepherding Project. NO III Francia oriented the members on the functions of the CNC and the responsibilities of the Mayor as CNC Chair, the nutrition action officer and nutrition secretariat.  DMO II Rivas also presented the status of functionality of the QCNC and discussed recommendations on how to make their CNC active and functional.  

As agreed, RNST members will continue to assist Caloocan and Quezon City in 2023. A courtesy visit to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte will be scheduled next year to discuss the details of the project and get her support and commitment.

The Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) through RNC Resolution No. 1, Series of 2020 declares the cities of Caloocan, Manila, Pasay, and Quezon City as the new priority areas for the Shepherding Project in Metro Manila (https://www.nnc.gov.ph/component/phocadownload/category/63-policies-plans-activities?download=2301:rnc-ncr-resolution-no-1-series-of-2020). The project aims to assist LGUs in improving their nutrition program management resulting to improved nutrition situation, ensure that regular monitoring is provided, and facilitate the dissemination of current issues and concerns on the PPAN to these LGUs.

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