NNC R2 assisted and provided technical assistance to Isabela Provincial Nutrition Committee during their LNAP Formulation Workshop and Strengthening City Nutrition Committee last 24-25 May 2022 held at Food Court, Capitol Grounds, City of Ilagan, Isabela.

It was attended by 20 members of Provincial Nutrition Committee. The activity aimed to provide technical assistance to the PNC members in the formulation of their 2023-2025 Provincial Nutrition Action Plan with consideration to current nutrition program updates and the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling to be implemented by 2022.

PNAO Henedina Cabrera, welcomed the participants and formally opened the 2-day workshop. She recognized the important roles of LGU planning team in formulating their respective LNAPs and ensuring that this will be integrated in the local development plans and annual investment programs for assured budget and implementation.

Day 1 covered the following topics: Session 1: Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition; Session 2: Why Invest in Nutrition; Session 3: Review of Existing Documents on Local Plans and Budgets; and Session 4: Formulating Situational Analysis. The topics highlighted the components and strategic thrusts of the PPAN 2017-2022 that the LGUs should consider including in their local nutrition action plans, the compelling social and economic reasons on why to invest in nutrition discussed the current nutrition situation and how it affects the growth and development of a country. The inclusion of LNAP in their respective Comprehensive Development Plans and Annual Investment Programs were also assessed before formulating the nutrition situational analysis of their municipalities.

Day 2 was allotted to discuss: Session 5: Inclusion of Nutrition in the Priority Development Challenges; Session 6: Crafting PPAN-Based Programs at Municipal Level; Session 6.1: Setting Outcome Targets; Session 6.2: Defining Programs and Projects to Achieve Outcome Targets. Acknowledging that malnutrition is an existing problem in LGUs is an important component of the planning process. Based on the situational analysis, outcome targets and defining the corresponding programs, projects and activities to achieve those targets were also formulated.

Further, on the last day, Session 6.3: Estimating Budgets for Nutrition Programs and Session 7: Putting Together the 2020-2022 Local Nutrition Action Plan were discussed. Budget allocation and resource mobilization activities will ensure implementation of the identified programs, projects, and activities. With the completion of the topics, it was expected that LGUs had their draft updated or formulated their LNAP 2023-2025.

It was agreed that the LGUs will be presenting their draft LNAPs in September for review and polishing. Local Nutrition Action Plans are considered the blueprint of LGUs in ending malnutrition in their respective LGUs as it adopts the PPAN.###JOHN NESTOR BALLAD