The National Nutrition Council Region 2, represented by Mr. Edzell M. Arcinue, Nutrition Officer III, attended the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program Partnership Sustainability and Capacity Building held last 5-6 May 2022 at Villa Saturnina Hotel and Resort in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. The activity was attended by sixty four (64) Regional Convergence Team Members from different National Government Agencies, and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).

The activity aimed to polish the directions of RCT members in the EPAHP Program and ensure linkage between the demand and supply of the program. The following agenda were discussed:

1.            Mapping of CBOs for Matching with Demand Group

2.            Guidance Note on Drafting MOUs, MOAs, and Data Sharing Agreements under the EPAHP Program and Related Protocols

3.            Developing an Effective Convergence Strategy for the EPAHP Goals

4.            PCB 2023 (Identifying and Generating Partnership Opportunities in the Region

NO III Arcinue presented to the plenary the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program and its demand for the CBOs. NNC’s partnership with Department of Agrarian Reform and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) was highlighted during the presentation. It was also shared that Regional MOU between DSWD and NNC for EPAHP had already been signed.

The NNC, through the Regional Nutrition Committee, is expected to approve a resolution enjoining LGUs to consider CBOs under EPAHP program for their local Dietary Supplementation programs and coordinate with LGUs with demand through their local Dietary Supplementation programs and link CBOs for partnership. NNC also submitted a project proposal for the conduct of Tutok Kainan DSP for inclusion in the allocated program budget of EPAHP. – Edzell M. Arcinue