On 11 February 2019, the National Nutrition Council (NNC), led by Nutrition Officer II Katherine Villanueva, together with its media partner, Mediazone Production met with Honorable Ricardo R. Bitong, Mayor and Chairperson of the Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) of Casiguran, Aurora for an Orientation Meeting on NNC’s Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program.
The NNC’s Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program establishes community radio stations to promote nutrition and development in areas with high prevalence of malnutrition and not reached by commercial radio broadcast. The NNC is the only government agency allowed by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to set-up community radio stations.
Since the program started in 2008, there are now 44 Nutriskwela community radio stations in 16 regions in the country. As NNC intends to establish additional Nutriskwela radio stations in priority areas of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2017-2022 which have high rates of stunting among children under five years of age, the municipality of Casiguran, Aurora was identified as one of the potential areas for Nutriskwela expansion. Based on 2017 OPT stunting prevalence rate of Casiguran, Aurora is 12.8% (0-5 years old) while wasting prevalence rate is 4.33 % (0-5 years old). The NTC also found the municipality to be technically suitable for establishing a community radio station.
The orientation aimed to discuss the details of the Nutriskwela program, explore the possibility of partnering with LGU-Casiguran on the establishment of the Nutriskwela community radio station, and determine the feasibility to set-up and maintain the radio station as a result of the observation visit and meeting.
During the half-day meeting, Ms. Villanueva of NNC briefly discussed the NNC’s Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program, NNC’s mandate, establishment of a community radio station and organization of a community radio council (CRC), and responsibilities of partners, among others.
The role of NNC includes the provision of over-all directions of the Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program (NCRNP), which contains the radio station policy and editorial policy that form part of the written agreement between NNC and the LGU of Casiguran, Aurora; broadcast studio equipment, provision of training on nutrition and community radio broadcasting for the station personnel and hands-on training for the CRC, provide broadcast materials for airing, obtain and renew the necessary permits or licenses from the NTC, convene the station personnel as necessary for the conduct of conferences, meetings and similar fora to update station personnel about the NCRNP, conduct monitoring visits, provide technical assistance, as needed and maintain linkages with the LGU-Casiguran including the management of the Nutriskwela community radio station to ensure sustainability and compliance to the requirement of NNC and the NTC.
On the other hand, LGU-Casiguran shall agree to abide by the Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program station policy and editorial policy and other policies issued by the NNC, provide the location and area for the Nutriskwela community radio station, provide the required utilities to set up the broadcast equipment, provide the required minimum station personnel which shall include 1) station manager; 2) program manager; 3) two broadcasters; 3) licensed Radio Technician; and 5) IT specialist as assistant technician who will manage the Nutriskwela community radio station; organize and sustain a multi-sectoral community radio council composed of representatives from different sectors which shall include, but not limited to farmers, fisherfolk, students and youth, women, religious, civic organizations, senior citizens, police or military organization, indigenous peoples, barangay nutrition scholars, academe, civil society and the barangays.
The LGU shall also ensure the security and safety of the broadcast equipment and antenna tower, design the radio programming, shoulder the cost of operational expenses, broadcast nutrition programs emanating from NNC or hook up NNC-produced programs, allow other personnel to broadcast programs, comply with the NTC rules and regulations, conduct regular internal monitoring of the operations of the station to ensure sustainability of the Nutriskwela community radio station and annual evaluation to determine its effectiveness in promoting good nutrition; allow the NNC or its authorized representative to monitor, inspect and evaluate the facilities, equipment and records of the station and allow and support the attendance of the station personnel in the conference and other meetings convened by the NNC for the Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program.
The LGU is also expected to submit semestral reports in June and December of each year to inform the NNC on the programming, broadcast signal map and accomplishments of the Nutriskwela community radio station, particularly on the promotion of good nutrition.
The short meeting culminated with the ocular visit of the proposed site of the Nutriskwela community radio station located at the second floor of the former Casiguran District Hospital.
The meeting was attended by members of the MNC led by its Chair Mayor Bitong, Ms. Marissa Orcullo, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer; Dr. Merill Danay, Municipal Health Officer; and representatives from the Sangguniang Bayan and from the municipal offices of accounting, assessor, budget, engineer, health, interior and local government, social welfare and development, and tourism; from the Provincial Health Office – Dr. Luisito G. Teh, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer and Provincial Health Officer; Ms. Lucena Quiday, District Nutrition Program Coordinator; from the NNC-Region III - Ms. Ana Maria B. Rosaldo, OIC-Nutrition Program Coordinator and Melany A. Orquia, Nutrition Officer I; MQ Mediazone – Ms. Mackay Quadra and staff.
Very timely, during the week of the meeting, UNESCO led the 8th edition of the World Radio Day which is observed annually to celebrate radio as a medium. The celebration of World Radio Day every 13th of February was proclaimed on 3 November 2011 by UNESCO’s 36th General Conference after originally being proposed by the Kingdom of Spain. The objective of the Day are to raise greater awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio, to encourage decision makers to establish and provide access to information through radio, as well as to enhance networking and international cooperation among broadcasters.
For Casiguran, Aurora – the voices of the people will soon be heard! (Melany A. Orquia and Ana Maria B. Rosaldo)
