The Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition (RPAN) 2017-2022, the local version of Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition draws to its conclusion this year. To ensure its continuity, National Nutrition Council Regional Office V (NNC ROV), under its LGU Mobilization Program initiated a series of workshops formulating the 2023-2025 Local Nutrition Action Plans (LNAP) in time with the just concluded elections in May and the assumption of office of new sets of officials last July. This new cycle of LNAP are expected to address the multi-faceted issues surrounding nutrition in each LGU towards contributing to the objectives of RPAN.
Dubbed as Workshop Formulating LNAP 2023-2025 and Integration of Budgets in Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP), Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), Local Development and Investment Program (LDIP) and Annual Investment Program (AIP), two batches of workshop kicked-off in the province of Camarines Sur held on 30-31 May and 6-7 June 2022 at the Regent and Villa Rosita Hotels in Naga City, respectively. The workshop, a follow through of 2019 workshop was well attended with only one of the 37 LGUs in the province not represented. Nutrition Action Officers, Budget Officers and Planning and Development Coordinators joined hands and gave NNC an overall “better to best” training evaluation as well as its trainers.
Though a shortened version of 2019 four-day workshop, it met the objectives of producing a draft LNAP 2023-2025 following a thorough input-discussion-workshop process starting with the session on understanding the compelling reasons why LGUs should invest in nutrition, followed by a presentation of the province’s nutrition situation based on the results of 2022 OPT plus. The workshop started with local nutrition situation analysis answering guide questions and modifying and updating the local problem tree. Revisiting the vision and mission, formulating their respective goal and objectives, and setting of outcome targets were conducted. These sessions helped in the identification of Programs, Projects, and Activities for nutrition. Budgeting was even made easier using the costing workbook developed by NNC.
The drafted LNAPs were expected to not only increase budget for nutrition but also address implementation issues such as low OPT plus coverage and delayed submission of OPT results to ensure use of reliable and accurate data. Other issues raised were the inadequate support given not only by the local chief executives but also by key local government officials such as the planning and development coordinators, and budget officers. The need for a law to hire full time and plantilla nutrition officer in LGUs was again emphasized, with a fervent request for NNC to intensify lobbying with the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Finalization of the LNAP 2023-2025 was a major next step of the Nutrition Committees followed by a resolution by the local development council approving this and integration in the respective development and investment plans.
Succeeding batches of the workshops followed in Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Sorsogon and Masbate. (DMO II Bo, NPC ARR, NNC ROV)
