As part of the over-all LGU mobilization strategy in scaling up nutrition in the remaining years of PPAN implementation, the National Nutrition Council Regional Office IX conducted a five-day local planning workshop on Integrating Nutrition in the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP), Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) and Local Development Investment Plan (LDIP) for the province of Zamboanga del Sur. The workshop was held at the Hotel Guillermo, Pagadian City which was attended by 122 participants of 28 LGUs of the ZDS province. The participants were composed of Municipal Nutrition Action Officers, Municipal Health Officers, Municipal Budget Officers, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinators and Officers, DILG IX Municipal Local Government Operations Officers and other members of the Municipal Nutrition Committee.

To begin the workshop, Mr. Roger Saniel, Board member and Sangguniang Panglalawigan Vice Chairman on Health and Social Services addressed the welcome remarks for the activity. Mr. Saniel stated that he and the governor of Zamboanga del Sur province are hopeful that the function/activity will bring fusion to a well thought nutrition action plan that will ultimately benefit the constituents of the province specially the needy and the poor. 

The alarming malnutrition situation in the Philippines have a great impact in the national and local development. It is an embarrassment for a middle-class country that Filipinos are rank 2nd shortest in the ASEAN Region and Philippines is 9th in the global burden of stunting. With this current situation, Ms. Nimfa D. Ekong Officer-In-Charge Nutrition Program Coordinator of NNC IX explained why Local Government Units (LGUs) need to put high priority to nutrition and make significant investments in nutrition. Ms. Ekong also illustrated how LGUs can invest in nutrition with focus on the first 1000 days to effectively prevent stunting.

As a refresher to the participants of the PDPFP and CDP formulation process, Provincial Director of DILG, Zamboanga del Sur Mr. Mohammad Taha S. Arakkama reviewed on the existing documents on Provincial/Municipal/City plans and Budgets. Participants then focused on the formulation of their Local Development Plans and draft Local Nutrition Action Plans (LNAP) for 2020-2022 and other worksheet outputs. With the combined help of the facilitators, Ms. Evelyn Capistrano, ND IV of DOH-CHD RO9, Ms. April Jasmine May C. Ducusin, NO II of NNC Central Office, Dr. Ricardo S. Awit, MNAO of Piñan, Zamboanga del Norte, Alcanz International Consultants Mr. Andre B. Flores and Ms. Karla S. Laqui, Nutritionist Dietitians Deployment Project (NNDPs) II of DOH, Zamboanga del Sur and the NNC IX staffs, and the willpower of every LGUs, all participants were able to come up and submitted all their required outputs.

The workshop concluded with the expression of impressions from every representatives of the participants. For MNAOs, Ms. Marilou T. Cañas of Molave, expressed her gratitude to as what she called the facipulators (facilitator and manipulator) for equipping and enhancing their knowledge in the workshop. She said that she is hoping for the success of the integration of nutrition so that it wouldn’t be just a job well done for them, but a life well lived for everyone. MHO representative, Dr. Rhoel D. Elumabaring of Josefina, MPDC representative Engr. Elmer Molejon of Margosatubig, DILG MLGOO representative Mr. Dave A. Barrot of Bayog and MBO representative of Tabina Mr. Armando A. Padel also addressed their gratification for being able to participate in the activity. They stated that aside from enhancing their knowledge, they were also given tips on the prioritization of plans and as they go back to their respective municipalities, they’ll be able to present their LNAPs to their Local Chief Executives and convince them to integrate and prioritize nutrition in their Local Development Plans.