On 29 January 2016, the National Nutrition Council in Central Luzon will spearhead a Regional Advocacy Meeting for Scaling Up Rice Fortification in the Philippines at the Hotel Stotsenberg, Clarkfield, Pampanga.

Mr. Hector C. Maglalang, Project Consultant from UNICEF, will present key results of the study entitled “Study on Rice Consumption for Social Safety Net Programs”. A workshop will be held to develop an action plan that includes policy, promotion and marketing components to increase consumption of iron-fortified rice particularly by government agencies, NGOs and LGUs.

The advocacy meeting, which aims to advocate for the use of iron fortified rice by national government agencies, nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and local government units (LGUs) for their social safety net programs will be participated by the provincial/city nutrition action officers, provincial/city/municipal social welfare and development officers, national government agencies, suppliers of fortified kernels or iron-fortified rice, nongovernment organizations and local media partners in Central Luzon.

The project, a collaborative effort between the National Nutrition Council and the UNICEF, is in support of the Food Fortification Act of 2000 for the prevention and control of micronutrient malnutrition.