National Nutrition Council - MIMAROPA conducted another leg of online workshop in integrating nutrition in Annual Investment Program to the local government units of Palawan last 6-10 September 2021 attended by Nutrition Action Officers, Health Officers, Planning Officers, Budget Officers, and Committee on Health Chairpersons. Fifteen municipalities (Aborlan, Agutaya, Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, Coron, Culion, Cuyo, Dumaran, El Nido, Linapacan, Magsaysay, Quezon, Roxas, San Vicente and Taytay) and the province were able to complete the 3-stage online workshop.
“This online workshop is a great opportunity for all stakeholders to get involved in the discourse of identifying actions for nutrition improvement and allocating budget to ensure efficient utilization of resources. Through the support of National Nutrition Council, we can set the policy direction of the province of Palawan towards a high-quality life among Palaweño families,” Vice Governor Victorino Dennis Socrates emphasized in his inspirational message during the opening program. He encouraged everyone to put premium on nutrition and ensure that it is integrated in the priority programs of all LGUs in Palawan given that malnutrition as a recurring problem in the country especially among young children and women is expected to worsen brought by COVID-19 pandemic.
Stage 2 of the planning workshop which involved focused technical assistance for output completion with assigned facilitator was conducted on 7 and 8 September 2021 for Batch 1 and Batch 2, respectively. Due to weak internet connectivity in the areas, most of the LGUs worked offline but in constant communication to their assigned facilitator via SMS.
Stage 3 or the Presentation of Outputs happened on 9 and 10 September 2021 for the two batches. For Batch 1 of municipalities, PNAO Rachel Paladan, MNAO Marika Madeja of Aborlan and MPDC Josephine Rabang of Culion presented their outputs. While in Batch 2, Nutrition Assistant Victor Gabasan of San Vicente, MNAO Delia Arcegono of Magsaysay and MNAO Jocelyn Abellana of Quezon had their presentation.
Positive feedbacks were received from the participants about the online workshop. They found the tool helpful in costing their activities and helped them in identifying which activities needed to be prioritized. Although some experienced difficulty in using the tool and preparing the AIP, facilitators were able to assist and guide them in formulating the AIP for nutrition.
It is expected that through this activity, the four priority programs – First 1000 Days, Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition, Nutrition-sensitive Programs and Enabling Programs would secure a strong and adequate nutrition budget to prevent stunting and safeguard nutrition in the post-pandemic period.
Written by: NO II Estrella
