Butuan City --The National Nutrition Council, Caraga region spearheaded a 2-day workshop on Integrating Nutrition into the 2023 Annual Investment Program (AIP) on 20-21 October 2022 at Shacene Restaurant, Tandag City for the local governments units of the province of Surigao del Sur.

A total of sixty-six (66) local nutrition committee members participated from one (1) city, seventeen (17) municipalities, and the provincial government of Surigao del Sur. The participants were composed of Nutrition Action Officers, Municipal Budget Officers, Planning and Development Coordinators and Officers, SB on Health, and Provincial Administrative V, who were only present on the first day.

The workshop was officially opened by the Provincial Administrative Officer, Mr. Joebert Lerog on behalf of the Provincial Governor, Alexander T. Pimentel. Mr. Lerog stated that he is grateful to the National Nutrition Council for conducting the activity and was hopeful that this activity will help the nutrition-action officer, together with the team of each municipality, have a well-thought-out investment program for nutrition in 2023 which will benefit the constituents of the province, especially children and pregnant women.

After the regional nutrition situation was presented, OIC-Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator, Dr.  Niño Archie S. Labordo of the National Nutrition Council Caraga highlighted the importance of investing in nutrition for effective local governance. Dr. Labordo shared the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) as the framework to address the malnutrition problem in the province. Dr. Labordo also presented the local nutrition committee composition, the roles, and responsibilities of each member.

On the other hand, Ms. Teresita Lina Medrano of the regional office of the Department of Health Caraga presented the Health and Nutrition Devolution and the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) that will be implemented starting this year until 2025.

With the help of the regional team of Planning Facilitators, Ms. Love Joy Juntilla, an Information Management Officer (IMO), Ms. Samantha Anne T. Navarro, and Ms. Jann Abigail O. Portillas, Development Management Officer (DMO) II of NNC Caraga, the participants were able to craft a draft annual investment program for 2023 and draft Local Nutrition Action Plan 2023-205.

The workshop concluded with feedback from the selected participants, who expressed their gratitude to the organizers for conducting the event and gaining knowledge on the importance of investing in nutrition and including it in their annual investment program. #JAOPortillas