Armed with commitment to evaluate nutrition workers and observing minimum health standards and protocol, the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) follow through the 2022 Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation Protocol (MELLPI Pro) in the province of Marinduque on 30 August to 1 September 2022.
On the morning of the first day of the visit to the province, the Provincial Nutrition Office, Municipality of Mogpog, and the Municipal BNS Federations of Marinduque spearheaded the conduct of the annual convention. Gracing the event were PA Vincent Michael Velasco representing Governor Presby Velasco, Mayor Augusto Livelo, Vice Mayor Jonathan Garcia, SP Bernadine Mercado, PNAO Rubi Apiag, MNAO Dr. Edzel Muhi. The activity was attended by 253 BNSs in the 6 municipalities of Marinduque. Mayor Livelo welcomed everybody to Mogpog and thanked the BNS Federation Officers for considering Mogpog to be venue of the activity. He commended the BNSs for their tireless efforts in ensuring that nutrition services are timely delivered to beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, PA Velasco commended the BNSs for doing their job excellently. He said that the provincial government of Marinduque led by Governor Velasco with the assistance of Congressman Velasco recognizes the invaluable efforts and sacrifices of BNSs in the province. He also congratulated the service awardees, 30 years and more, and still counting for choosing to spend almost half of their lives serving our children and vulnerable groups in their communities. He further assured the BNSs that Governor Velasco, Congressman Velasco, and himself continue to look for whatever means to assist all the BNS in the province. During the activity, BNSs were given their 2nd quarter provincial incentive and they had also the chance to win prizes in the raffle draws.
On the other hand, NPC, OIC Blanco and PA Velasco discuss how PA Velasco and his brother Congressman Velasco helped the BNSs. NPC Blanco also requested PA to assist NNC to reach out to Congressman Velasco to author a bill amending PD 1569 and he said that he is glad, willing, and committed to arrange a meeting with the office of Cong. Velasco to discuss details of PD 1569, assuring NPC Blanco that he will give feedback on this matter.
In the afternoon, the team composed of NPC Blanco, PEO Loyola, PDO Millares, DAR RNET member Ruby Onchita, and DSWD Provincial Officer Hannah Grace Opis evaluated DNPC Ms. Maureen Leyco. Desk review of documents of Ms. Leyco was done as well as the interview.
On the second day of the evaluation, the team evaluated BNS Sheryl Rasa of Brgy Suha, Torrijos, Marinduque. BNS Rasa is Marinduque’s Provincial Outstanding BNS. NPC Blanco and the team were welcomed by Barangay Captain Graciano Girmilado and the whole barangay council. Desk evaluation was done while BNS Rasa took the exam and was then interviewed by the team. A short feedbacking was conducted presenting good points as well as things to work on to improve the implementation of various programs. Per desk review on the e-opt of 2021, five 5(0-59 mos old children) were malnourished. Supplementary feeding was given to these 5 malnourished children. However, despite the supplementary feeding program, these children up to date remain to be malnourished. NPC, OIC Blanco stressed to the barangay council that they have to revisit their nutrition programs and its implementation to ensure that objectives are achieved.
In the afternoon, the RNET concluded the visit with an evaluation of PNAO Apiag conducted by the team where desk review was conducted scrutinizing PNAO Apiag’s documents.
During all the learning/feedback session, the evaluators expressed the importance of documentation and keeping records and accomplishment reports. This dimension was also an area that province of Marinduque needed to finish strong on especially with the MELLPI Pro tool being an evidence-based type of assessment.
Written by: PDO I Lorelie Millares
