During the orientation on the Nutrition Service Continuity Online Survey held last 07 January 2021, P/C/MNAOs and D/C/MNPCs were enjoined to participate in answering the survey on behalf of their respective LGUs. It was also mentioned during the orientation the importance of the continuity in the delivery of nutrition services amidst the persisting COVID-19 pandemic most especially to the vulnerable groups to counteract the negative impact of the problem.

Since the participants were orientated on the said survey, NNC 9 has been continuously helping those LGUs who were having difficulty answering the said survey in order to reach the 100% response rate from all LGUs of Region IX. We thought of strategies to increase the response rate of LGUs. The Nutrition Action Officers and Nutrition Program Coordinators were constantly reminded through the facebook groupchat and via email and telecommunications to answer the survey. For those who have difficulty joining in the survey due to poor internet connection, they were encouraged to answer the survey form provided by NNC 9 and just take a picture of their answers and in return, an NNC 9 staff will answer the survey online on their behalf. Likewise, some were also called personally by an NNC 9 staff where the latter asks the questions while opening the survey link and input the responses of the LGU representative right there and then. These strategies were noted to be successful since the response rate of LGUs have increased.

As of writing, Region 9 already reached 100%. Even amidst the pandemic and the distance, NNC 9 will always find ways to assist their beloved LGUs by any means just to make work simpler and possible even if online platforms are being used.

AA VI Cielo Katrina M. Mabalot