A forum entitled “Nutrition Forum in Palawan” was conducted last December 4, 2012 that aims to update the local government units (LGUs) on the present situation of 0-5 years old preschool and 6-10 years old school children in Palawan.
It was participated by Assistant Regional Director Faith Alberto MD and Ms. Perla Supnet of Center for Health Development-MIMAROPA, Dr. Eduardo Cruz (Provincial Health Officer); Dr. Maria Vina Crisostomo (Medical Specialist II); Ms. Rachel Paladan (Provincial Nutrition Action Officer) and nutrition staff of the Provincial Health Office of Palawan; members of the Provincial Technical Working Group; representatives from DepEd – Palawan and DILG – Palawan; Municipal Health Officers (MHOs); Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAOs); Barangay Environment, Agriculture and Nutrition Scholar (BEANS) Presidents; ABC Presidents; Provincial Information Officer and PROMO Nutri Com Secretary Daisy Ann Atrero and her staff; and Mr. Edgardo Javarez, Program Director of DYSP and PROMO Nutri Com’s P.R.O.
During the said nutrition forum, Officer-in-Charge Blanco presented the Medium-Term Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (MTPPAN), Nutrition Officer III Tan lectured on the Guidelines of Operation Timbang while PNAO Paladan discussed the results of the 2012 Operation Timbang (OPT) of Palawan with highlights on barangays with high Malnutrition Prevalence Rate (MPR). Two other resource speakers were also invited namely Ms. Liza Marie Victoria Dillena, Officer-in-Charge of the Health and Nutrition Unit of the Department of Education Region IV-B and Ms. Marilou Galang, Senior Science Research Specialist of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute - Department of Science and Technology. Both discussed the Nutritional Status of School Children in MIMAROPA highlighting Palawan and the Results of the 2011 Updating of the National Nutrition Survey focusing on Palawan, respectively.
It was then followed by an open forum so that municipalities can voice out their health and nutrition concerns. Representatives from different municipalities and provinces accepted the challenge and signed their commitment to alleviate hunger and reduce the prevalence of malnutrition in Palawan on behalf of the Governor and Mayors.
Provincial Health Officer Cruz gave the synthesis and his support in addressing the health and nutrition challenge which the province is facing. He ended by thanking the National Nutrition Council – MIMAROPA and the Provincial Nutrition Office of Palawan as the said forum also served as an opportunity to bring together prime advocates of good nutrition from the 22 municipalities of the province of Palawan.
