On 28 February 2022, the National Nutrition Council MIMAROPA conducted a virtual monitoring of LNEWS-FNS to the LGU of Narra, Palawan for the second semester of 2021. The meeting was attended by members of LNEWS Core Group headed by MNAO Ana Paz Cervancia. 

The Local Nutrition Early Warning System – Food and Nutrition Security (LNEWS-FNS) is a form of monitoring and analysis of collected data, such as food production, food prices, climate, and other factors, that determines the food and nutrition security in the community.

During the brief overview of the submitted reports of Narra, Palawan, it was noted that they were on price alert on majority of the nine (9) index food items wherein more than P10.00 increase in price was observed. Moreover, chronic malnutrition or stunting is also high in the five (5) sentinel barangays. In terms of dietary diversity, it is noted that household consumption is more on root crops, tubers, vegetables, and fish.

The participants recognized the importance of LNEWS-FNS in their municipality as it is useful in plan formulation and improvement of governance with notable impact on the improvement of food and nutrition security. However, they expressed that the price indicator on milkfish or bangus is not so helpful due to scarcity of freshwater fish in their area.

Towards the end of the meeting, the monitoring team from NNC MIMAROPA suggested that the core group should organize a quarterly meeting to analyze and formulate smart recommendations that would be presented during their Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) meetings.

Written by: NO I Sean Frances P. Barredo