Palawan Province – The National Nutrition Council MIMAROPA headed by the Nutrition Program Coordinator and OIC Ma. Eileen B. Blanco together with Information Management Officer (IMO) Xylene Ann B. Notario was assisted by Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) Rachel T. Paladan in the conduct of monitoring visits in Dumaran, Roxas, and San Vicente, Palawan last 7-10 June 2022.
The team met with Executive Assistant III Randolph Francicso B. Alcoseba, Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Member Grace Banes and Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) Beberlita Dulay in the municipality of Roxas, Mayor Arnel T. Caabay and MNAO Fe Remy Ann Paalan in the municipality of Dumaran, and Municipal Administrator Lydia Rodriguez and MNAO Rodrigo Cipriano Jr. in the municipality of San Vicente to give updates on the Response to Typhoon Odette in Palawan, verify information collected by the IMO, and discuss concerns related to implementation of nutrition programs and provision of minimum nutrition package during emergencies.
The team commended the efforts of everyone on their actions on the effect of Typhoon Odette. Overall, there is a slight increase in the malnutrition prevalence rate (MPR) based on the moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) / severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases of the municipalities. They also discussed gaps on the response in nutrition in emergencies which includes no organized nutrition cluster, no stockpiling of commodities, lack of standardized anthropometric tools, lack of trained nutrition service providers on Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (PIMAM), Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), Micronutrient Supplementation, and Nutritional Assessment, and no Disaster Risk Reduction and Management - Health - Nutrition in Emergencies (DRRM-H-NiE) Plan. The importance of nutrition cluster was explained to the representative of each municipality and organizing the nutrition cluster was encouraged.
Concerns on the implementation of nutrition programs based on the MNAP of the municipalities was discussed. MNAOs that were visited are all designates thus request for additional staff in the nutrition offices and the removal of some functions of the MNAOs were raised for more focus on nutrition. Other concerns such as additional supplies, submission of OPT Plus results, involvement of the BNC on the implementation of nutrition programs were also discussed.
In addition, the team visited the Solar Salt Processing Center in Dumaran together with Mayor Caabay and the DOST representative, Pacifico T. Sariego. The center is expected to function this year with the hopes of giving livelihood opportunities to the residents of Dumaran and to increase the source of iodized salt in the northern part of Palawan.
They also visited the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and had a courtesy call with PGADH-PDRRMO Cruzalde B. Ablaña wherein they asked for storage space for the upcoming ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) from DOH, organization of the nutrition cluster in the province, and to spearhead training of nutrition in emergencies - information management (NIE IM) to the MNAOs and LCEs of the municipalities.
On the last day, the team had a courtesy call with PHO II Dr. Faye Erika R. Querijero-Labrador and Supervising Administrative Officer Mr. Archel H. Gaton of the Provincial Health Office and shared purpose of the monitoring activity and hoped for the continuing support on the recovery and rehabilitation of the municipalities that are highly affected by Typhoon Odette.
Written by: IMO Xylene Ann B. Notario
