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- Category: Region 4a
6-7 February 2019 – NNC Calabarzon conducted the Training on the Updated Monitoring and Evaluation Protocol during the 1st Calabarzon Nutrition Action Officers’ General Assembly, series 2019 held at Ouan’s The Farm Resort, Lucena City. Total of 117 participants composed of Provincial/City and Municipal Nutrition Action Officers and District/City Nutrition Program Coordinators were capacitated during the 2-day activity.
Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ms. Carina Z. Santiago in her message to local nutrition workers said that the new monitoring and evaluation system aims to determine the nutrition security based on local implementation of nutrition programs and performance of the local nutrition workers. She also said that the new tool will help in knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the LNCs and LNWs, identify areas for improvement and necessary recommendations for better program implementation and improved nutrition situation. She then mentioned that the tools will be used by the Provincial/City/ Municipal Monitoring and Evaluation Team (P/C/MMET) and Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Team (RMET) starting 2019.
Nutrition Officers III, Ms. Cynthia B. Vengco and Ms. Jasmin DF. Tandingan of the Nutrition Surveillance Division of NNC Central Office facilitated the said training. They discussed the background of the MELLPI Pro, key features, guidelines, overview of the training and the journey to nutrition awards. The MELLPI Pro tools for LGUs and LNWs were thoroughly discussed and simulation exercise was done for the participants to have a hands-on feel of the new tools.
Read more: NNC Calabarzon Capacitates Local Nutrition Workers on MELLPI Pro
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- Category: Region 4a
The National Nutrition Council through Provincial Nutrition Coordinator (PNC) of ECCD F1K Ms. Zarah Clarice T. Megino released the 2nd tranche of funds to the local government of Candelaria through Honorable Mayor Macario D. Boongaling. for the ECCD-F1K program amounting to Php 921,250.00. The awarding of check was witnessed by Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) Ms. Graciella O. Ramos and Municipal Accountant Mr. Michael A. Morada to whom the ECCD F1K Program components and budget allotment were discussed.
The said downloaded fund was intended for F.Y. 2019 implementation of nutrition, health, social, and agricultural component of the program for the ECCD F1K beneficiaries – primarily pregnant and lactating women, mothers with 0-2 years old children and women of reproductive age planning to conceive. The program also caters to the Conditional Cash Transfer beneficiaries or 4Ps.
Under health and nutrition, nutrition education classes using Idol ko si Nanay module and participatory cooking demo will be done by the trained Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Barangay Health Workers, and Midwives in the upcoming trainings targeting 25 barangays with MNAO Ramos and MHO Dr. Alcantara as lead facilitators. A total of 75 barangay workers and 750 beneficiaries were trained on breastfeeding, complementary feeding, sanitation, among others. Furthermore, distribution of planting source material with budget of Php20,000 per barangay will also be given as this will serve as a supplemental source of fund for the establishment of a sustainable Home and Community Food Production (HCFP) component of the program. All targeted barangays already established F1K gardens that were well-maintained by beneficiaries and Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) and were the primary sources of ingredients used for complementary feeding.
Read more: Candelaria, Quezon Receives Second Tranche Funds for ECCD F1K Program
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- Category: Region 4a
5-9 February 2018 – The National Nutrition Council (NNC) and Alcanz International, a team commissioned by NNC to develop a Compendium of Actions on Nutrition (CAN), visited the Province of Quezon to compile success stories, good practices and lessons learned from performing local government units (LGUs) in nutrition. Quezon was among the 11 LGUs selected nationwide for the case studies which are high-performing LGUs in nutrition and are either current or past nutrition champions, whether awarded the Green Banner, Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) Award, and Nutrition Honor Award.
The visit involved the conduct of focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and document review with different key persons in nutrition in the province, different sectors and committees involved in nutrition as well as two (2) municipalities in the province, namely: Atimonan and Lopez. They also interviewed the members of the Provincial Nutrition Multisectoral Committee (PNMC) and the Quezon’s First 1000 Days Program (Q1K) Technical Working Group as they were highly involved in the nutrition program management of the province.
During the last day of the visit, a CAN Exit Conference was attended by the PNMC Core Group, the Provincial Nutrition Action Office staff, and was graced by Hon. David C. Suarez, Governor of Quezon, his wife, Rep. Anna Villaraza-Suarez, ALONA Partylist, and Ms. Carina Z. Santiago, Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator of NNC-CaLaBaRZon. Gov. Suarez and Rep. Suarez gladly provided inputs and shared how their “bedtime” talks translated in strengthening the nutrition programs in the province. They also shared anecdotes on how they come up with their own nutrition programs in the province. Their passion for public service and nutrition was reflected as they shared the list of their travels, and conferences attended to not only learn about nutrition and nutrition program management, but share their experiences, as well.
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- Category: Region 4a
JULIUS CARMELO A. PARCAREY RN MSN
The province of Quezon has 9 District Nutrition Program Coordinators (DNPCs) to oversee the province with 41 cities and municipalities and 1,242 barangays in total. This translates to large program coordination among Local Government Units (LGUs) in all levels and numerous paper works with rigorous monitoring and evaluation of nutrition programs that are implemented.
While stereotyped image of nutrition workers might conjure with disheveled overworked government employee circumnavigating tons of paperworks in the office, today, nutrition workers instead are more vibrant, creative, revolutionary and inspirational. Program leaders and local government units are increasingly interconnected thus, nutrition workers are linked within communities. Nutrition workers can truly be change agents in helping communities come together to address a myriad of challenges with local solutions and bringing the voice and needs of each community forward. The revolution made by nutrition workers are impressive considering the nutrition sector field is more understaffed. Yet far from being the victim of these conditions, Quezon nutrition workers showed more empowered than ever before. For instance, Quezon Provincial Nutrition Office managed to visit all municipalities thrice in a row for for its annual provincial MELLPI, considering the geographical adversities in Quezon. 4 days a week for 4 months of continuous immersion in the municipalities proved to be difficult but nonetheless endurable just to deliver necessary evaluation on municipal programs. These challenges add to the unceasing efforts of the Provincial Government to elevate nutritional status of Quezonian children throughout the years.
Today, nutrition workers play a vital role in decreasing malnutrition level in the province through program monitoring, evaluation and implementation. But somewhere along the line nutrition workers are not merely employees but also workers for social change which is celebrating the change that they opted to be.
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- Category: Region 4a
13 February 2018- the City Nutrition Committee (CNC) of Calamba organized their Bantay Asin Task Force (BATF) – the first among the cities in the region during the 1st CNC meeting held at the DILG Conference Room, Calamba City Hall.
Calamba CNC Vice-Chair, Director Lenie R. Bautista, City DILG presided the said meeting on behalf of Honorable Mayor Justin Marc SB. Chipeco.
RNPC Carina Z. Santiago of the National Nutrition Council discussed the importance of addressing the Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), the National Salt Iodization Program (NSIP), the terms of reference in the creation of local BATF including the composition, roles and responsibilities of each members and functions of the local BATF as a whole. She mentioned that the government is now campaigning for “adequately iodized salt” and not just iodized salt which can be determined through the SISA seal or the Saktong Iodine Sa Asin seal. She also encouraged them to pass an ordinance or resolution to strengthen the creation of the BATF and include sanctions for the offenders if possible.
Read more: Calamba City Organizes Local Bantay Asin Task Force (LBATF)
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- Category: Region 4a
16 May 2018 – In order to strengthen and intensify advocacy for exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding in the municipality of Kalayaan, the Kalayaan Breastfeeding Patrol Support Group conducted a general assembly at the Macy’s Events Place in Barangay Longos, Kalayaan, Laguna. A total of 107 mothers including the new members of the group attended the general assembly, who were oriented by the regional offices of the National Nutrition Council and the Department of Health, as well as staff of the Rural Health Unit.
Mayor Leni M. Adao formally opened the event by welcoming everyone and proudly sharing about her own breastfeeding experiences to her four (4) children who are now successful in their respective professions. She said that all her children were breastfed until 2 years old or even more. Ms. Carina Z. Santiago, Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator of National Nutrition Council – CaLaBaRZon, gave a keynote message that highlighted the strategies on how Kalayaan can improve its efforts towards being a mother-baby friendly community. She acknowledged the efforts of the LGU to establish the breastfeeding support group starting in 2014, and further strengthening and increasing the efforts of the support group to date. Ms. Minnie Agana, Midwife I, and Ms. Edelane Acueza, Nurse II of Kalayaan, Laguna presented the Breastfeeding TSEK: Tama, Sapat at EKslusibo which tackles the importance of breastfeeding, busting myths about it, and the common problems being experienced by the mothers and the remedies for the problems. Ms. Suzette Espallardo, Nutrition Program Assistant, Department of Health – CaLaBaRZon, discussed the complementary feeding and the importance of timely and adequate introduction of complementary feeding to their babies. Mr. Edzell Arcinue, Nutrition Officer III of National Nutrition Council – CaLaBaRZon presented the TSEK Forms which are to be used by the members of the support group to further improve their report submission and records keeping.
Read more: Kalayaan: towards a mother-baby friendly community
