Region II

Details: Category: Region 2; Published: 31 May 2014

mancon flies to batanes Headed by Assistant Secretary of Health and Executive Director Maria- Bernardita T. Flores, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Management Team composed of Nutrition Program Coordinators from different regions across the country and Division Chiefs of NNC Central Office flew to Batanes last 12 May 2014 for the 2nd NNC Management Conference (ManCon).

The 5- day NNC ManCon took place at the Department of Agriculture- Batanes Experiment Station on 12-15 May 2014 bounded by the dynamic culture and enchanting scenery in Batanes. The conference was set to update on the status of various programs, projects and activities; tackle and resolve issues on nutrition policy and plan development, promotion of good nutrition, monitoring and evaluation and; discuss other concerns with regards to the operations of NNC.

NNC- Region 02 led by Nutrition Program Coordinator Rhodora G. Maestre hosted the said conference. In coordination with the Provincial Nutrition Committee and Provincial Tourism Office, NNC- Region 02 arranged different set of tours for the NNC Management Team to discover the undisturbed and unspoiled beauty of the Province of Batanes.

Details: Category: Region 2; Published: 08 May 2014

National nutrition award trophies Three of the Local Government Units (LGUs) in the region are contenders of this year’s prestigious National Nutrition Awards.

For this year, the Municipality of Lal-lo, Cagayan is vying for the Nutrition Honor Award, the highest recognition given to LGUs throughout the country. Meanwhile, the Province of Quirino and City of Cauayan are now on their 2^nd and 1^st year of maintaining their Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (Crown) Award, respectively. These LGUs have consistently shown excellent performances in the delivery of basic nutrition and health services to the community.

Assistant Secretary of Health Maria-Bernardita T. Flores of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) will lead the National Evaluation Team (NET) in evaluating the Municipality of Lal-lo while the rest by the senior staff of NNC Central Office. Validation visits for Region 02’s contenders are scheduled from May- June 2014.

Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Rhodora G. Maestre of NNC R2 firmly believes that entries of the Cagayan Valley region will make it considering the strong support of local chief executives and the legislative to nutrition programs and outstanding performance of local nutrition committees for nutrition improvement.

LGUs that will qualify for the said nutrition awards will receive a cash prize and a trophy during the 2014 National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony in October.

Details: Category: Region 2; Published: 28 February 2014

NNC staff attending the 1st quarter Regional Nutrition Committee meeting The Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) of Cagayan Valley held its 1^st Quarter meeting last February 26, 2014 at Crown Hotel & Restaurant, Tuguegarao City. In attendance during the said meeting were the RNC-Regional Technical Assistants for Nutritions, Provincial/City Nutrition Action Officers (P/CNAOs) and Nutrition Officers of the region. The meeting highlighted on the organization and activation of Nutrition Cluster Coordination. Other matters tackled during the meeting are the following:

- 2013 RNC Member Agency and NNC- RO2 Accomplishment reports
- Updating of the RNC Strategic Plan 2014- 2016
- 2014 Regional Nutrition Evaluation
- RNC Resolutions for 2014
- NNC- RO2 Programs, Projects and Directions for 2014

“This year, we will capacitate local nutrition clusters in nutrition management during emergencies and disasters. We will ensure that the nutritional status of the affected population will not worsen due to emergency,” Nutrition Program Coordinator Rhodora G. Maestre of National Nutrition Council- Region 02 said.

NPC Maestre also discussed that the NNC Regional Office as the Nutrition Cluster Coordinator should lead in the formulation of the Regional Strategic Response Plan. In line with this, the Regional Nutrition Cluster members are scheduled to have their 1^st Nutrition Cluster meeting on April 01, 2014.

Details: Category: Region 2; Published: 14 April 2014

The newly elected officers of the Cagayan Valley Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) Federation took their oath of office before Nutrition Program Coordinator Rhodora G. Maestre of National Nutrition Council- Region 02 during the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos Forum last March 28, 2014 at the Crown Pavilion, Tuguegarao City. Officers of the Cagayan Valley BNS Federation are the following:

President: Ms. Mercedes Cara (Benito Soliven, Isabela)
Vice President: Ms. Janette Vallente (Cabarroguis, Quirino)
Secretary: Mr. Cipriano Molina, Jr. (Cauayan City, Isabela)
Treasurer: Ms. Geronima Arao (Tuguegarao City, Cagayan)
Auditor: Ms. Maritess Nitura (Luna, Isabela)
PRO: Ms. Estelita Jose (Cauayan City, Isabela)

Board of Directors:

Ms. Modesta Rivera (Solano, Nueva Vizcaya)
Ms. Geraldine Parucha (Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya)
Ms. Nida Mariñas (Alcala, Cagayan)
Ms. Hilda Arellano (Ballesteros, Cagayan)
Ms. Gladys Maramag (Tuguegarao City, Cagayan)
Ms. Jennifer Gabilo (Sabtang, Batanes)
Ms. Mary Ann Cataluña (Ivana, Batanes)
Ms. Marilyn Mebaña (Ilagan City, Isabela)
Ms. Relina N. Torres (Ilagan City, Isabela)

In her opening message, NPC Maestre highlighted the role and contributions of barangay nutrition scholars in the implementation of nutrition programs in the region and tagged them as barangay champions.

Inducted officers will serve for three (3) years coterminous with the term of barangay officials. Other members of the Cagayan Valley BNS Federation and media partners were also present to witness the said ceremony.

Details: Category: Region 2; Published: 13 February 2014

There is a need to look back in order to prepare for the future.

Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Rhodora G. Maestre speaking during the Program Implementation Review (PIR) This is the guiding principle behind the conduct of the 2013 Program Implementation Review (PIR) spearheaded by the National Nutrition Council-Cagayan Valley Region held last January 23 and 24, 2014 at the New Rajah Soliman Restaurant and Hotel in Baguio City.

The PIR was held to assess the programs, projects and activities which were done in the previous year relative to the implementation of the Medium Term Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (MTPPAN). The results of the PIR along with secondary data from the PPAN accomplishments reports will direct the formulation of the Strategic Plan of the Regional Nutrition Committee 2014-2016 and annual local nutrition action plans of provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays in the region.

The PIR participants were Provincial and City Nutrition Action Officers, Nutrition Officers, Regional Technical Assistants for Nutrition (RTANs), members of the Balay ni Ifan Media Group and NNC-02 staff.

In her message, Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Rhodora G. Maestre recognized the efforts of various agencies and stakeholders in improving the nutrition status in the region. She also proudly shared that the NNC Regional Office was able to achieve its various targets in the past year.

Details: Category: Region 2; Published: 11 April 2014

Sacks of non standard salt March 11-29, 2014

Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya ASIN task force captured an approximately 8 tons of illegally shipped non- iodized and inadequately iodized salt entering the Sta. Fe checkpoint. According to the report submitted by Mr. Orlando Pichay, Sr., Team Leader of Sta. Fe BANTAY ASIN Task Force, confiscated salt came from Mangaldan and Infanta, Pangasinan which are supposed to be delivered to the Provinces of Nueva, Vizcaya, Isabela and Cagayan. Table below shows a summary of the quarantine violation reports from March 11- 29, 2014.

Date and Time	Quantity	Violation	Owner	Action Taken
March 11, 2014 9:47 AM	750 kgs.	Lack of iodine content (3.7 ppm and 4.7 ppm only)	Mr. Alejandro Erfe	Sent back to origin
March 14, 2014 6:17 AM	1,360 kgs.	No license to operate No clearance issued No iodine content	Mr. Jeffrey Carpio	Sent back to origin
March 14, 2014 6:40 AM	765 kgs.	No license to operate No clearance issued Lack of iodine content (6.0 ppm and 1.3 ppm only)	Mr. Jimmy Lemon	Sent back to origin
March 28, 2014 10:02 PM	2,000 kgs.	No license to operate No clearance issued Lack of iodine content (5.4 ppm only)	Mr. Ernesto Aquino	Sent back to origin
March 29, 2014 9:09 PM	1,200 kgs.	No iodine content	Mr. Sandy Viscera	Sent back to origin

Since the turn-over of WYD iodine checker by Nutrition Program Coordinator Rhodora Maestre of the National Nutrition Council- Region 02 to the Municipality of Sta. Fe Nueva Vizcaya last October 9, 2013 during their Provincial Nutrition Awarding Ceremony, the ASIN task force has been true to its commitment in sustaining the operations of the ASIN checkpoint located in Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya. As partner in the implementation of the ASIN Law or Republic Act 8172, the asin task force is expected to conduct visual search and thorough inspection of all salt transported and passing in the said municipality as entry point to the Cagayan Valley region. Results of inspection and testing will serve as basis in the issuance of an appropriate clearance to the salt merchandise in transit.