Twenty-four (24) BNS presidents of the various provincial and city BNS associations in the region participated in the first 2021 meeting of the Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholar in Region IV-A (FBNS-4A) last March 31, via zoom.
Thru Ms. Carina Santiago, RNPC, her NNC Calabarzon staff, and in partnership with Ms. Milagros Valera, FBNS IV-A President of Laguna Province -- the members of the federation agreed to come up with a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the activities that were taken up and agreed upon in the meeting.
The meeting was able to gainfully tackle various issues and concerns of FBNS IV-A including: updates on the “ e-OPT Plus Tool”; “MELLPI Pro Guidelines and Forms” for Barangay Nutrition Committees (BNC) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS); and the collection of annual dues of members .
The following NNC activities for 2021 were also reviewed: plans for Nutrition Month 2021; issuance of BNS IDs; Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony; Virtual Conference on PPAN for Barangay Chairpersons and BNSs; and the materials to be distributed (specifically the BNS hygiene kits, IEC material on “Bye Bye Bansot sa Barangay” and MUAC tapes for children and adults).
The status of BNS financial assistance requests such as traveling allowance, medical and survivorship assistance, and civil service eligibility were also deliberated on. As such, NNC Calabarzon will closely coordinate and provide up-to-date feedbacks to the LGUs as needed.
Also agreed upon by the federation body are the following: President Milagros Valera, Secretary Vivian Gambo, and Treasurer Susan Convento will be tasked to organize/come up with a status of membership and payment of annual dues per province and city; the inclusion of PHP12 LuzViMin Federation Dues in Memorandum of Agreement between BNSs and the federation; inclusion of newly appointed Assistant Secretary, Ms. Edna Baña in the roster of FBNS-4A Officers; and NNC-4A to send a letter to Lucena City through CNAO Dr. Jocelyn B. Chua, informing that NNC provides financial assistance for BNSs.
The next FBNS IV-A quarterly meeting will be scheduled on the last week of April to set about the remaining items in the agenda: the updates on Tutok Kainan and Social Media Promotion for the FBNS IV-A; and other nutrition updates and organizational concerns.
By: Darrenz William M. Mateos