Axiaa Hotel, Quezon City – The National Nutrition Council MIMAROPA Region conducted a 3-day Refresher on Local Nutrition Action Planning on 5-7 October 2022, participated by 30 attendees, composed of Local Nutrition Committee members, Provincial and City Nutrition Action Officers, District and City Nutrition Program Coordinators, and nutrition staff from LGUs of Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Puerto Princesa City, and Calapan City.

Local Government Units have a vital role in scaling up nutrition in the PPAN implementation. Thus, the activity aims to assist the provinces and cities of MIMAROPA Region in drafting Provincial/City Nutrition Action Plan for 2023-2025 to include devolved programs, projects, and activities and enable secured funding, which was presented by each LGU representative.

A levelling of expectations for program, facilitators, participants, and food was conducted prior to the activity to identify the need of each participant. The whole duration of the activity was comprised of 8 sessions namely: 1) Introduction to Local Nutrition Planning, 2) Formulation the Nutrition Situation, 3) Setting Goals and Outcome objectives, 4a) Selecting Interventions and Development Implementation Plan, 4b) Estimating Budgets for Nutrition Programs, Projects, and Activities, 5) Preparing the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, 6) Plan Packaging and Approval of Plan, 7) Putting Together the 2023-2025 Local Nutrition Action Plan, and 8) Integrating LNAP into Local Development Plans and Annual Investment Programs.

The draft Local Nutrition Action Plans (LNAPs) of the participating provinces and cities will be presented and discussed to their respective local nutrition committees with technical assistance from NNC MIMAROPA for inputs, finalization, and approval.

NPC Ma. Eileen B. Blanco, NO III Keren Faye Gaya, DMO II Bianca Estrella and PEO I Nichole Loyola of NNC MIMAROPA served as the resource speakers on that 3-day activity.

Reducing, preventing, and ending all forms of malnutrition is possible through strong local government support and sectoral collaborations, adequate investments, and appropriate interventions that address the multi-faceted causes of malnutrition.

Written by: PEO I Nichole Loyola