The three (3) Local Nutrition Early Warning System for Food and Nutrition Security (LNEWS-FNS) areas in MIMAROPA Region – Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro; Coron, Palawan; and Narra, Palawan convened on 3 February 2022 via Zoom Application in preparation for the upcoming 2021 National Program Implementation Review (PIR).

LGUs were assisted in accomplishing the workshop output consisting of five (5) indicators: a) stability factors, b) food availability, c) household food access, d) community health status, and e) nutritional status of 0 to 59 months old children.

MNAO Ana Paz Cervancia of Narra, Palawan shared that one of their actions taken to address issues on malnutrition and food insecurity is through well coordination with the Municipal Nutrition Committee. It is essential to discuss these concerning cases during MNC meetings to notify the members on the current situation and identify appropriate measures to be done. Additionally, price hikes within their municipality were due to poor food supply, out-of-season food items, and rare availability of fishes like milkfish or bangus.

By the means of this National PIR, LNEWS-FNS areas in MIMAROPA Region will be assessed through the status of implementation of the system, identifying good practices and program gaps, and strategies for sustainability.

Furthermore, upcoming schedule of 2022 1st semester online monitoring this February to March, pending reports for submission and link to download LNEWS tools were informed to the participants.

NNC MIMAROPA aspires that the LNEWS results may be beneficial in determining and developing suitable interventions to further reduce malnutrition prevalence rate, and food insecure households within the municipality more particularly amid COVID-19 pandemic. NNC MIMAROPA commits to provide technical assistance to LNEWS areas at all means to improve execution of LNEWS-FNS.

Written by: PNFP Nichole Kate S. Loyola