The first in Region 9! The Province of Zamboanga del Sur, through the chair of the Nutrition Committee Provincial Governor Victor J. Yu and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Zamboanga del Sur enacted and approved Provincial Ordinance No. 040-2020 also called as “An Ordinance Strengthening Barangay Nutrition Program by Providing for a Barangay Nutrition Scholar in Every Barangay; Providing Funds Thereof and For Other Purposes in Accordance with Presidential Decree No. 1569”. This ordinance was approved to provide guidance and measures in support to the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) to enable them to effectively participate in the nutrition and nutrition-related services and development of the province as well.

One of the salient points of the said ordinance is the Security of Tenure given to the BNSs. Section 6 of such ordinance states that “the services of the registered BNS shall not be co-terminus with the appointing authority and shall not be terminated, except for the cause provided by the law and after due process”. This is good news for the BNSs since they can’t be removed easily, they are already protected by this ordinance provided that the BNS shall submit monthly accomplishment report to the immediate supervisor.

The ordinance also enumerates the roles and responsibilities of the City/Municipal Nutrition Committee (C/MNC), City/Municipal Nutrition Office (C/MNO), Provincial Nutrition Office (PNO), District/City Nutrition Program Coordinator (D/CNPC), Barangay Nutrition Scholar, Barangay Nutrition Scholars Association (BNSA), The City/Municipal Barangay Nutrition Scholars Federation (C/MBNSF), and the Provincial Barangay Nutrition Scholar Federation (PBNSF).

To Provincial Ordinance can be access through this link:

https://www.facebook.com/nnczampen/posts/3693209134095519

Congratulations to the Province of Zamboanga del Sur for enacting such ordinance!

AA VI Cielo Katrina M. Mabalot