The October and November four-day online “National Training on Nutrition Shepherding” which involves a peer-to-peer platform of guiding and mentoring low-performing LGUs in the area of nutrition -- augurs well for strengthening the mobilization of Calabarzon LGUs for nutrition improvement. It will also firm up knowledge and skills on nutrition program management.
The national training was attended by representatives from 17 regions, including the NNC-CaLaBarZon and members of the Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG) on Nutrition.
The “Welcome Message” in the training was given by Dr. Azucena Dayanghirang, NNC Assistant Secretary and Executive Director.
The topics discussed were: “Mobilization of LGUs for Scaled-up Nutrition Actions”: “Key Features of the Nutrition Shepherding Project”; “Prioritizing Nutrition and Local Development Planning”; “Investment Programming and Budgeting”; “Mandanas-Garcia SC Ruling and Nutrition Investment”; “Influencing Leadership in Local Governance”; “Gender Transformative Nutrition Shepherding”; and “Effecting Learning Through Shepherding.”
In the training, there were workshops for the case study on the shepherding process and for the planning on the next steps and actions.
For the next steps, the representatives of RNST indicated in the re-entry plan, that they will start the roll-out and feedback to the RTWG and RSCN-SCSD and select members to complete the shepherding team together with the representatives coming from the high-performing LGUs in CaLaBaRZon.
Ms. Diane Zapata Ulan of DOST shared that the nutrition shepherding program is a big opportunity for technical assistance to the LGUs but there are fears that it is a tough responsibility for the RNST. Ms. Zapata also mentioned that Regional Development Council (RDC) CaLaBaRZon has approved the resolution for “LGU Mobilization” by RSCN-SCSD of CaLaBaRZon
Participants who represented the CaLaBaRZon RNST were the RTWG Vice-Chair, Ms. Diane Ulan; RTWG member, Mr. Neil Evangelista ; Mr. Edward Paglinawan and Ms. Kristine Fedilo from NNC CaLaBaRZon.
Subsequently, the NNC-CaLaBaRZon participants in the training gave their feedback to NNC Calabarzon NPC Ms. Carina Santiago. They also shared the ways forward and next steps. Meanwhile, Ms. Santiago gave her outmost support for the LGU shepherding as part of strengthening the LGU mobilization for nutrition improvement
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Written by: Edward C. Paglinawan
