Butuan City--- In a virtual meeting conducted on 23 February 2022, the Social Development Committee (SDC) of the Regional Development Council (RDC) endorsed the Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP).

The PMNP is a multisectoral nutrition approach to deliver a coordinated package of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions across the various local government unit (LGU) platforms together with a harmonized social behavior change and communication strategy.

Lead by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as main proponents, the project aims to increase the utilization of a package of nutrition–specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions and improve key health behaviors known to reduce stunting in targeted areas.

The projects consist of three major components. Component 1 focuses on strengthening the delivery of Nutrition and Primary Health Services. Component 2 directs Community Based Nutrition Service Delivery and Multi-sectoral Nutrition Convergence and Component 3 includes Institutional Strengthening, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Amongst the beneficiaries of said project are the LGUs with the highest burden of childhood stunting, children under five years old, pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and the sector in the poorest households.
Though a similar resolution was passed on June 10, 2021, through RDC-SDC Resolution No. 11, series 2021, entitled, “Endorsing to the Regional Development Council the Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project”, the project has been revised with instructions during the meeting between the Investment Coordination Committee-Technical Board (ICC-TB) Chair and the proponents, DOH and DSWD. Thus, a reaffirmation to said project was sought.

The PMNP have identified 235 municipalities in 26 provinces in 12 regions, including the Province of Surigao del Sur in Caraga region. #NASLabordo