Members of the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) of Metro Manila attended the orientation on February 8, 2023 at the Ramada Hotel, Manila to prepare for the conduct of the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation or MELLPI Pro for 2023.

A total of 23 RNET members from 16 agencies/organizations attended the orientation. During the session, Nutrition Officer III of the National Nutrition Council – NCR (NNC-NCR), Ms. Emerenciana Francia discussed the guidelines of the MELLPI Pro and the revised tools used to evaluate the Local Nutrition Focal Points (nutrition action officer, city/municipal nutrition program coordinator, barangay nutrition scholar). Development Management Officer II Ms. Theresa Rivas also discussed the tool for the city/municipality.

The group agreed on the special awards to be given to LGUs and final schedule of the visits were discussed. Before the orientation ended, the group voted for the Chair and Vice Chair for 2023. Ms. Gelaine Gutierrez of Philippine Information Agency – NCR and Ms. Charlotte Publico of Department of the Interior and Local Government – NCR were voted as Chair and Vice Chair of the RNET, respectively.

In her message, NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa Federizo emphasized that the MELLPI Pro is not an audit but an opportunity to mentor the local government units on how to operationalize the PPAN efficiently and effectively at the LGU level for nutrition improvement.

“We have the policy, plan, and guidelines but these should be translated into doable programs and projects for the benefit of target population groups who are most in need,” RNPC Federizo said.

She added, “That is why we need to do the MELLPI; for us to assess the performance of the LGUs and give recommendations on how to improve their implementation and management of nutrition programs”.

The MELLPI Pro is the monitoring and evaluation mechanism for the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition at the local level. This year, the RNET will visit the 17 LGUs from March-April to evaluate the LGU’s implementation and management of nutrition programs in 2022.

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