It was a surprising 24thday of March 2015 when the province of Pampanga led by its Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, Ms. Rustica R. Butiu was able to bring together representatives of its 19 municipalities and 2 cities in its first ever Local Nutrition Committee Orientation and Consultative Planning Meeting at the Benigno Aquino Hall, Capitol Grounds, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. The activity was attended by 19 Municipal Health Officers/Municipal Nutrition Action Officers, 5 Rural Health Staff, 10 Budget/Planning Officers, and 7 ABC Presidents.

Having generated the desired mix and level of authority of participants, the NPC and NO III of the NNC Regional Office were inspired to discuss comprehensively the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, how this is translated at the local level through integrated planning, how each functional local nutrition committee (LNC) plays a vital role and contributes to the success of the nutrition program management, especially on advocacy with legal bases.

A long way ahead for the “revitalized” Nutrition Committees to pursue the attainment of practical program indicators sensitive of the LGU needs with one initial big step taken. Bravo… LNCs of Pampanga!

As of March 2015, six (6) Local Nutrition Committee (LNC) Orientation and Consultative Planning Meetings were already conducted with the participation of the Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) members, Provincial Planning and Development Officers (PPDO), Mayors and orSangguniang Panglungsod/BayanMembers, C/MPDCs and selected C/MNC members as follows: 1stBatch-Aurora (January 29); 2ndBatch-Bulacan (January 30); 3rdBatch-Bataan (February 4); 4thBatch-Tarlac (March 3); 5thBatch-Nueva Ecija), and 6thBatch -Pampanga (March 24).With the activity theme’s“Pagsasama-sama, pagbuo, pagtutulungan at pagtatagpo(convergence)para sa Wastong Nutrisyon”, nutrition adequacy for all Central Luzonians will soon be realized.