With the call to entries for the 2016 Search for the Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (ROBNS), NorMin Regional Nutrition Committee reminded all Region X provinces and cities of its new policy that limits the endorsement of the same P/COBNS to a maximum of three years.

The new regulation takes effect this year with the adoption of RNC X Resolution No. 6 (s. 2016) “Approving the Recommendation of the RNC-Technical Working Group to Limit the Endorsement of the Same Provincial/City Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar to the Search for Regional Outstanding BNS to A Maximum of Three Years”. The same resolution provides that same P/COBNS endorsed for three years (need not be consecutive) must show progressive performance (increasing score).

“We (RNC-Technical Working Group) observed that one city of Northern Mindanao has been endorsing the same COBNS from 2010 to 2014 while the scores based on the tool used were decreasing over the years”, says Eva Pacturan of DA X.  The new policy will give a fair chance to other performing BNSs to being declared as the ROBNS and be a potential contender to the Search for the National Outstanding BNS.

Qualified BNSs selected through a provincial and city level evaluations are endorsed to the National Nutrition Council X as their respective Provincial or City OBNS who all qualify for the Search for the Regional OBNS. The Regional OBNS, on the other hand, is declared through a regional level evaluation. Regional OBNS that reaches the cut off score is endorsed to NNC Central Office as regional contender to the national search.

The Search for the National Outstanding BNS was initiated by National Nutrition Council to periodically assess the performance of the BNSs and recognize those with outstanding performance in the delivery of basic nutrition and nutrition-related services in his/her barangay leading to improved nutrition. pcgd