Region IV-A

Details: Category: Region 4a; Published: 06 August 2014

4-6 June 2014 – the NNC Internal Quality Audit Team conducted the first cycle of audit to NNC Calabarzon in line with NNC’s Journey towards ISO Certification. The activity was done to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of the Quality Management System (QMS) in terms of implementation and documentation at the regional office, as well as its readiness to the ISO Certification. The team was headed by staff of NNC Central Office and NCR, namely: Ms. Emerenciana L. Francia, Ms. Lorna L. Rodriguez, and Ms. Leslie Carreon.

“You’re off to a good start” was the overall comment of the IQA team. The auditors commended the regions’ existing best practices in terms of documentation and specifically in the implementation of 5S plus 2. Further, the team relayed their recommendations for the enhancement of the regional office’s operations and systems.

Because of the activity, the NNC Calabarzon led by NPC Carina Z. Santiago became more motivated and determined to live by the NNC Quality Policy, “The NNC, as the highest policy making body on nutrition, is committed to ensure improved access to quality nutrition and related interventions through formulation and coordination of policies and programs with excellence, integrity and transparency. We shall endeavor to continually improve the quality management system to satisfy the needs and expectations of our clients with strict adherence to existing laws, rules, and regulations.”

Details: Category: Region 4a; Published: 07 May 2014

April 24 - 25, 2014 – The Communicators’ Network for Nutrition in Region IV-A (CNN-4A), during its 2^nd Quarter Meeting, visited the Manila Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) for a radio study tour. The tour was part of the capability building activities identified by the group during its planning workshop in 2013, which aimed to enhance the competence of the CNN-4A members particularly on Radio Plug Production. Mr. Dennis Antenor Jr., the Network Creative Manager and RHTV Project Head of the Manila Broadcasting Company presented a lecture on Radio Broadcasting and Tips on How to Creatively Develop a Radio Plug. He then divided the participants into groups with an assignment to create a script for a 15-, 30- or 45- seconder plug on promoting good nutrition and present this in plenary. Topics presented by the groups were on the nutritional guidelines for Filipinos, healthy lifestyle, consumption of vegetables, and benefits of using iodized salt. The CNN-4A then conducted a tour of the MBC headed by Mr. Antenor, which consists of the following radio stations: DZRH, Easy Rock, Love Radio, Aksyon Radyo, Yes FM, The Beat FM, Hot FM and Radyo Natin.

Meanwhile, the CNN-4A Meeting held at the Lancaster Hotel tackled the following topics: 1) Organizational Concerns such as updates on their SEC Registration, membership, organizational chart, and website; 2) Brief committee reports concerning their accomplishments and actions; and 3) the organization’s plan of action in view of the revised Local Media Plan for 2014. CNN-4A President Ms. Ma. Janet G. Buelo facilitated the discussion during the meeting, together with NPC Carina Santiago.

The 2-day activity not only gave an opportunity for strengthening the abilities and potentials of each member of the media group but also gave way in welcoming the new members/nutrition advocates of the group. A total of 18 provincial and city information officers and private media practitioners from the provinces and cities of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon attended the two-day activity.

Details: Category: Region 4a; Published: 01 April 2014

Evaluation team on MELLPI March 24, 2014- The Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) of NNC Calabarzon started its Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) and the Search for the Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) and Outstanding Barangay. The first two cities that were visited were Batangas City and Cabuyao City.

Batangas City was monitored last March 25, 2014 and the evaluators were Ms. Diane Sadorra-Kabisig ng Kalahi, Ms.Lewina Tolentino- National Food Authority and Teamleader Ms. Lourdes Bulante from NNC IV-A. Cabuyao City were monitored last March 24, 2014. They were evaluated by Ms. Karen Soltura- Department of Interior and Local Government, Dra. Annaliza Araojo- Department of Education and Ms. Mary Mei Javier from NNC IV-A.

The MELLPI will run until September of 2014. This yearly monitoring and evaluation of the nutrition programs conducted by the RNET will help the Local Government Units (LGUs) to improve and be guided thoroughly on how they can continually eradicate the malnutrition situation in their respective jurisdiction.

The schedule for the rest of the MELLPI Season are as follows:

Date of MELLPI	Province/ City
April 1-3, 2014	Calamba City
April 2-4, 2014	Tayabas City
April 7,8 &11 2014	Tanauan City
April 21-23, 2014	Dasmariñas City
April 23-25, 2014	Sta. Rosa City
April 28-30, 2014	San Pablo City
April 28-30, 2014	Biñan City
May 5-7, 2014	Lipa City
May 6-8, 2014	Bacoor City
May 12-14, 2014	Imus City
May 13-15, 2014	Cavite City
May 19-21, 2014	Laguna Province
May 20-22, 2014	Batangas Province
May 27-29, 2014	Quezon Province
May 27-29, 2014	Lucena City
June 3-5, 2014	Tagaytay City
June 3-4, 2014	Antipolo City
June 5-6, 2014	Rizal Province
June 9-11, 2014	Cavite Province
June 9-11, 2014	Trece Martires City
August 4-8, 2014	Laguna Province
August 11-15, 2014	Batangas Province
August 26-29, 2014	Quezon Province
September 1-5, 2014	Rizal Province
September 8-12, 2014	Cavite Province

Details: Category: Region 4a; Published: 23 April 2014

Consultative meeting with the Honorable Governor Vilma Santos-Recto 12 March 2014 – A consultative meeting was held with the Honorable Governor Vilma Santos-Recto and the members of the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) at the Mansion, Batangas Provincial Capitol in Batangas City.

NNC-Calabarzon RNPC Carina Z. Santiago facilitated the meeting and gave Governor Recto a briefer on the mission of the RBATF, current status of the IDD, NSIP and Patak sa Asin Campaign at the national and regional level. She also discussed some of the consequences of iodine deficiency and reiterated that the use of adequately iodized salt is the cheapest and easiest way to fight the IDD. She then presented the results on the survey conducted by the FNRI-DOST in 2011 regarding awareness and utilization of iodized salt among provinces in the region which showed a low percentage including the province of Batangas.

Details: Category: Region 4a; Published: 19 March 2014

Guests and participants of the training on nutrition program management “Improved quality of life through reduction of malnutrition in Quezon Province by implementing strategic and responsive malnutrition program” – was the goal crafted by the re-vitalized Quezon Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) during the Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Planning Workshop held at the Queen Margarette Hotel in Lucena City.

The former PNAO Agripino R. Tullas initiated the said activity in support to the newly appointed PNAO Mr. Roberto D. Gajo. The member agencies of the committee were called together to assess the trends in nutrition situation of the province as well as to review on the roles and responsibilities of the members of the PNC.

During the 3-day activity, the group was given inputs on the phases of nutrition program management facilitated by RNPC Carina Z. Santiago of NNC, NO III Bulante, DNPCs Emma F. Coronado, Elenor Jetomo and HEPO Milagros Flavier. The lectures given were basics that the group needs to know for an effective and efficient management and implementation of nutrition programs in the province. Along with the lectures were series of workshops to determine their level of understanding and to formulate the outputs being asked. The PNC successfully formulated their goals, objectives, problem tree and local nutrition action plan including the interventions to address the different nutrition problems.

PNAO Gajo said they definitely need to do series of meetings in the coming days for the PNAP to be completed and enhanced. Meanwhile, PPDO staff committed to help in integrating the plan to the LGUs AIP for supplemental funding for 2014 and for inclusion in the AIP for year 2015 and 2016.

Quezon PNC trusts that they can alleviate and eradicate the malnutrition through proper identification of necessary interventions and through convergence of efforts from various PNC member agencies and other nutrition stakeholders. He also said that the Honorable Governor David C. Suarez Jr. is in union with them in their quest/battle in fighting malnutrition in the province.

Details: Category: Region 4a; Published: 23 April 2014

10 April 2014 – 51 Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs) and 22 representatives from the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon gathered at the Makati Palace Hotel for the first Meeting and General Assembly of the Nutrition Action Officers Association of the Philippines (NAOPA) – Calabarzon Chapter. The meeting was comprised of discussions on the various issues and concerns of the NAOPA including the organizational concerns and its Constitution and By-Laws, updates on NNC programs and activities, and a lecture on Nutrition Management in Emergencies.

Ms. Carina Z. Santiago, the NNC IV-A regional Nutrition Program Coordinator, and the NAOPA – Calabarzon Chapter President, and Laguna Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) Ms. Teresita S. Silo presided the discussions during the meeting. Morever, Ms. Carmelita Abalos, the NAOPA National President, and Mandaluyong City Nutrition Action Ofiicer (CNAO) delivered updates regarding the association and its activities. Clarifications on the association’s structure and regulations were done through an interactive forum among the NAOs.

The updates on NNC programs and activities intended to prompt the NAOs in being effective and efficient in their work, not only in planning and implementing nutrition programs, as well as in their monitoring and evaluation, and documentation. On the other hand, the lecture on Nutrition Management in Emergencies was to equip the NAOs with knowledge on nutrition activities in times of disasters.

The meeting gave chance for the NAOs to meet their counterparts in other provinces. The time to mingle with each other was not too long but it gave them a head start on being acquainted with each other.