After NNC R02 successful regional dissemination of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 in 2017, the municipality of Jones in Isabela and Province of Batanes conducted its municipal and provincial dissemination, respectively, to pledge support and adopt the PPAN 2017-2022.
Armed with its desire and learnings from the regional dissemination, the municipality of Jones conducted its locally funded municipal dissemination last 21 February while the NNC R02, to maximize the reach of the PPAN, disseminated it last 28 February in Basco, Batanes.
Mr. John Nestor Ballad, nutrition officer II of NNC R02, shared to the participants the regional nutrition situation based on DOST-FNRI National Nutrition Survey and based on Operation Plus Timbang results of 2017. He also emphasized the ranking of provinces and the continuous increasing trend of overweight and obesity in school children in the region.
Moreover, Ms. Maria Gisela M. Lonzaga, oic-nutrition program coordinator of NNC R02, extensively explained the PPAN 2017-2022. She also presented the different nutrition specific and sensitive programs which the area can adopt and implement to improve the nutrition situation in their localities.
Ms. Mariannette Sacatrapuz, municipal nutrition officer III-Jones, Isabela, presented their municipal nutrition situation and their best practices in the reduction of malnutrition in their area while Dr. Roel Nicolas, provincial nutrition action officer-Batanes, explained that the presence of stunting and underweight prevalence in the province is due to cases of teenage pregnancy.
OIC-NPC Lonzaga led the symbolic turnover of the PPAN document to local chief executives, sangguniang bayan and panlalawigan members, president of different organizations and representative from non-government organizations.
One of the highlights of the activities is the signing of the pledge of commitment by the local chief executives and other nutrition stakeholders to eliminate all forms of malnutrition in their localities.
In her keynote message, Honorable Leticia Sebastian, municipal mayor-Jones Isabela, emphasized the importance of the implementation of the PPAN in the improvement of the nutrition situation in their area.
She also stated that the increase in the allowance of BNSs should also be priority of every barangay chairperson because they are the nutrition frontliners in the conduct of different nutrition program.
Meanwhile, Governor Marilou Cayco represented by Honorable Ignacio Villa, Sangguiniang Panlalawigan-Batanes, pledged the LGU’s support to PPAN by implementing nutrition sensitive and specific programs.
He also stressed that the Ivatans will fully implement and support the PPAN 2017-2022 in their respective municipalities.
A total of 155 Jonesian and 50 Ivatans were present during the municipal and provincial dissemination respectively.#jnlb
