Quezon City – National Nutrition Council MIMAROPA convened Nutrition Action Officers across the region for a General Assembly on 18 September 2020. NAOs joined the virtual event via Google Meet which started around 8:30 in the morning. The event aims to provide relevant information which will capacitate the local nutrition workers in implementing nutrition programs in their localities and to relay nutrition updates at the local level.
NAOPA MIMAROPA President Dr. Leonor Daite and NAOPA Vice President for Luzon relayed the updates of the organization including the development of Compendium of Local Ordinances in Nutrition, NAOs identification card and the upcoming NAOs National Conference in October.
Ms. Romalyn Racho of Health Education and Promotion Unit of CHD MIMAROPA, discussed the Department of Health’s Bida Solusyon sa COVID-19 campaign which seeks to encourage Filipino people to take an active role in the fight against our common enemy, the COVID-19.
COVID-19 Responses at local level were also shared by few Nutrition Action Officers. PNAO Arceli Rebong (Occidental Mindoro) highlighted their response to IP communities through strong coordination for provision of Ready-to-Use Supplementary Foods (RUSF). On the other hand, PNAO Rubi Apiag (Marinduque) mentioned their provision of complementary foods and Nutri-bun produced in their food processing hub and delivered to its communities. Ms. Jaide Sanchez of Palawan also shared some activities conducted by the province including the Kusina sa Barangay and delivery of nutrition commodities with assistance from the Philippine Marines.
Technical updates including the Local Budget Memorandum No. 80, RNC Resolution No. 1 s. 2020: “Seeking Support from RDC MIMAROPA to Request all Local Government Units in the Region to Provide Healthy and Nutritious Food Packs during Disasters, Calamities and Public Health Emergencies” and its approval during the 3rd Quarter Regional Development Council Meeting last 4 September 2020 through the RDC Resolution No. 2020-072-908: “Encouraging all Local Government Units in the Region to Provide Healthy and Nutritious Food Packs during Disasters, Calamities and Public Health Emergencies” were discussed encouraging the Nutrition Action Officers to endorse the memorandum and resolutions to their local chief executives for its effective implementation.
To address common mistakes when requesting different Barangay Nutrition Scholars assistance being provided by NNC and to facilitate faster processing of their requests, the requirements for BNS travelling allowance, medical assistance, survivorship assistance, training kit and handbook request and CSC eligibility request are detailed by Ms. Nichole Loyola.
Further, the Compendium of Local Ordinances in Nutrition – a project of NNC together with NAOPA, Nutrition International and UNICEF was introduced and the process flow of its development was briefly discussed. LGUs are still encouraged to submit their local policies in nutrition since the online portal of the compendium is sustained and progressively updated. 2019 Regional Operation Timbang Plus Results and updates on the Early Childhood Care and Development – First 1000 Days Program in Occidental Mindoro were presented during the assembly as well.
Despite restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, NNC MIMAROPA was able to continue the learning and sharing of information updates and good practices among the provinces, cities and municipalities of MIMAROPA through this virtual platform. (BLVMEstrella)
