Tuguegarao City---- “Let’s invest in nutrition with focus on first 1000 days to end stunting and other forms of malnutrition through sound investments and comprehensive strategies,” a challenging statement of Director Jonathan Paul Leusen Jr, Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 02, in his inspirational message to the participants of the Planners forum on 5-6 February 2020 at Taj Hotel and Resto/Bar, Tuguegarao City.
Attended by Province of Isabela Planning and Development Officers, Local Nutrition Action Officers and other Nutrition and Health Officers, the two-day affair was conducted to ensure the integration of nutrition programs, projects and activities in the local development plan and annual investment programs of the municipalities and province in Isabela.
Atty. Eduardo Cabantac, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator of Province of Isabela gave a refresher topic on the formulation process of Physical Development and Framework Plan (PDPFP) and Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP). “ Hindi ito crash course sa pag gawa ng CDP o PDPFP, alam ko marunong na kayo lalo na sa CDP. Kaya ito ginagawa upang maisiguro natin na nakapasok ang mga nutrition PPAs sa mga respective plans natin dahil importanteng ang human resource sa kahit anong LGU,” he shared to the participants. He also admittedly, during his term as a local chief executive (formerly municipal mayor in Quezon, Isabela) he tends to forget nutrition in his priority programs and projects. “Dyan pumapasok ang galing ninyong mga nutrition officers, kailangang ilobby at ipaliwanag nyo sa mga mayor or governor nyo ang importansya ng nutrition,” he added.
Ms. Maria Gisela M. Lonzaga, Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator, shared the ways and importance of investing nutrition that the nutrition officers can use and share to their respective local chief executives. “Proper nutrition in the first 1000 days of a child produces positive impact in his/her personal health and development as a child, and in his/her productivity and family health later in adult life,” she strongly emphasized.
After the technical session, a panel discussion was conducted and moderated by Mr. Oliver Baccay, Information Officer- PIA R02, and participated by Atty. Cabantac and Ms. Luningning Rhodes, Nutrition Officer IV- Province of Quirino. Participants were given a chance to ask questions during the open forum portion of the panel discussion. Ms. Rhodes shared their province’s initiative and nutrition related programs and activities to the participants.
The two-day affair served as an avenue for the municipalities of Isabela Province to further integrate nutrition and gained tips and other nutrition programs and projects that can be adopted and implemented in their respective LGUs.###(JNLB)
