Danica Caballero, PIA RO5. The National Nutrition Council (NNC) Bicol rolled-out its new nutrition evaluation tool, dubbed as the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation Protocol (MELLPI Pro) on February 28 to March 1, 2019 in Legazpi City.
Ms. Arlene Reario, Nutrition Program Coordinator of NNC Bicol, said that MELLPI Pro is an instrument to assess and further improve the performance of nutrition workers and LGUs. “The MELLPI Pro is now anchored on the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022. It is easy to use and automatically provides the result of the evaluation,” Reario added.
The updated tool of NNC is designed to evaluate and assess the nutrition implementation programs of local government units (LGUs) and assess the performance of local nutrition workers such as Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs) and District/City Nutrition Program Coordinators (DCNPCs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs).
Ms. Marilyn C. Valeza, Nutrition Officer III of NNC Bicol, discussed that the tool is more objective in reviewing evidences which is based on rubrics presented in a spider web diagram.
Ms. Valeza explained that the MELLPI Pro is a promotive outcome-based evaluation tool that measures the promotion and observance of existing laws, rules and guidelines of the nutrition program.
After the workshop, Ms. Myra Relativo, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer of Sorsogon, shared that the tool is very user-friendly. “It is a systematic and objective tool. MELLPI Pro is more improved in objectivity and it is now in lined with the PPAN 2017-2022,” Relativo added.
“The tool actually digs down to how the LGUs did their job and their contribution and augmentation to the nutrition program. It does not only focus on the inputs and outputs in implementing nutrition programs but also the nutrition outcomes and security in the area,” added Dr. Rita Mae Ang-Bon of the Department of Health Bicol.
Members of the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) and nutrition action officers were trained of the new tool during the two-day training of trainers.
The MELLPI Pro replaces the old MELLPI tool, which was used since 1980s, annually assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of LGUs in planning and implementing local nutrition programs. Yearly, the evaluation culminates with the recognition and awarding of LGUs and nutrition workers with exemplary performance.
