The National Nutrition Council together with the Regional Nutrition &anti-Hunger Committee, Zamboanga Peninsula held the Regional Dissemination of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 on 05 December 2017 at the Palacio Del Sur Hotel and Convention Center, Zamboanga City. The PPAN is the Country’s framework for nutrition action. It serves as a guide for national governments, local government units, non-government organization, development partners and other stakeholders who wants to be involved in nutrition actions to address malnutrition particularly stunting and wasting, micronutrient deficiency and obesity.
The forum gathered 137 participants from all over the region. In attendance were some Local Chief Executives, Nutrition Action Officers, District/City Nutrition Program Coordinator, Barangay Nutrition scholars, Media partners, NGOs and RNAHC Members. The Chairperson of the Regional Development Council IX (RDC) Mayor Annamel Olegario delivered the keynote message stating her strong support for the PPAN. The Chairperson who is also the mayor of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay underscored the importance of good nutrition to development as she committed to support the PPAN in her municipality and be a nutrition champion among the other LCEs in the RDC.
The battle cry “Sa PPAN: Panalo ang Bayan!” sought to motivate the participants to be involved in transforming the PPAN 2017-2022 into local actions to fight malnutrition. Thus, the activity focused on deepening the understanding and appreciation of local officials and critical nutrition partners on the effect of malnutrition particularly on stunting and wasting in children as well as treat it as a development problem.
To influence the participants to action, the presentation of the PPAN 2017-2022 oriented the participants on the objectives and targets in reducing stunting and wasting; the strategic thrusts to address the problem as well as the nutrition specific programs that have direct impact on nutrition and the nutrition sensitive development programs that can be tweaked to address the underlying causes of malnutrition. The presentation provided the direction and models to the LGUs in localizing the PPAN that will address appropriately the local nutrition problem. The NNC9 Nutrition Program Coordinator Ms Maria Del Pilar Pamela R. Tarroza who did the presentation encouraged the Local officials to lead in the fight against malnutrition and invest on programs that support services for the first 1000 days of the child, preventing stunting and wasting and ensuring their healthy foundation to become productive adults in the future.
The state of nutrition based on the FNRI 8th National Survey in the region presented by Nutrition Officer III Ms. Nimfa D. Ekong provided an appreciation on the serious problem of malnutrition in the region. Stunting and wasting among children, poor nutrition of pregnant mothers and inadequate food intake of the families, are among the challenges that the national and local governments must address with double efforts.
Part of the program was the expression of commitment by the members of the Regional Nutrition Committee. The DOH Regional Director and Chair of the Regional Nutrition and Anti-Hunger Committee Dr. Emilia P. Monicimpo led the other members of the committee in expressing support to the PPAN 2017-2022. The DOH9 Director committed to facilitate the implementation of PPAN through the programs for the Family Cluster and to assist the LGUs with logistics and capacity building programs to improve health and nutrition services; the Chief of the Administrative Division of the Department of Agriculture Ms Rowena Pajes who is representing the Regional Director committed continuous support through the regional programs on food production by providing assorted vegetable seeds for household and school gardening, urban gardening as well as livelihood programs/trainings, farm to market roads and marketing services of the farmers and rural folks that would help generate employment; for the Rural Improvement Club Ms Hannah Nuǹo representing the Regional RIC President committed to support the PPAN strategies in their livelihood and social projects for women and children in the agriculture sector to ensure that they achieve their full potential. The Regional Federation Presidents of the NAOs, D/CNPCs, BNSs committed to lobby for the passage of resolutions/ordinances in support to nutrition program, advocate for nutrition budget, ensure nutrition data are properly generated and validated, and to strengthen the promotion of the Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices as well as protect and promote breastfeeding.
To concretize the discussions and commitments to the PPAN 2017-2022, the day’s forum was capped with a workshop in the afternoon to further identify next step activities that the Local Government Units will prioritize in their local nutrition plans of action. Grouped by provinces the participants identified local strategies and actions to effect attainment of PPAN Objectives.
Overall the positive response and commitments of everybody during the orientation and workshop indicated a motivated nutrition partners to lead the implementation of the PPAN 2017-2022. Truly, “Sa PPAN: Panalo and Bayan!” if the nutrition network in the region would work hand in hand for the children, pregnant and lactating women and for all the Filipino people in the region.
