8 October 2020, Cagayan de Oro City – Planning teams from the Bukidnon areas convened virtually for a two-batch Workshop on Integrating Nutrition in the 2021 Annual Investment Programs of local government units held 22-25 September and 29-5 October 2020 organized by the National Nutrition Council Region X.
Facilitating the workshops was the Regional Team of Planning Facilitators composed of NNC X headed by Nutrition Program Coordinator Gladys Mae S. Fernandez and her staff, Ms. Telesfora G. Madelo, Nutritionist-Dietitian IV of DOH Center for Health Development – Northern Mindanao and the Nutritionist-Dietitians under the DOH’s Human Resource for Health Program deployed in Bukidnon areas. As this was the region’s first attempt to facilitate planning sessions for LGUs, members from the National TPF likewise assisted during the workshop in the person of Mr. Reginaldo T. Guillen of NNC Central Office and Mr. André B. Flores of Alcanz International LLC.
18 out of 20 invited LGUs for the online activity were represented, namely: Bukidnon Province, Malaybalay City, Valencia City and municipalities of Cabanglasan, Damulog, Dangcagan, Don Carlos, Impasug-ong, Kadingilan, Kalilangan, Lantapan, Libona, Manolo Fortich, Maramag, Pangantucan, Quezon, San Fernando and Sumilao.
Key nutrition players in the LGU teams including the Nutrition Action Officers, Health Officers, Budget Officers and Planning and Development Coordinators attended the workshop.
The LGU planning teams underwent 4-day workshops to increase their recognition of the country’s current situation on malnutrition, and their roles to build resilience through investing in nutrition.
The workshop focused on the following sessions and activities: 1) Overview of the Online AIP Workshop, 2) Building Pandemic Resilient LGUs through Local Investments in Nutrition, 3) Guidance and Mechanics, 4) Completion of Workshop Outputs, 5) Presentation and Enhancements to the Completed 2021 AIP; and 6) Sustainability and Re-entry Plan.
To add, the LGU planning teams were able to produce proposed nutrition budgets for 2021 focusing on the Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition, the First 1000 Days, nutrition-sensitive programs and enabling programs, as well as identification of actions with timelines to secure implementation of nutrition budgets planned for the 2021 AIP.
At the end of the workshop, the LGUs presented their draft 2021 AIP for nutrition and re-entry plans. NNC X likewise shared their re-entry plan which includes follow-up activities and technical support to LGUs.
The LGU planning teams are expected to execute their re-entry plans to ensure adequate investment for nutrition for 2021. Along in this line, the RTPF will continuously monitor the LGUs’ progress in pursuing the planned activities.
The remaining four LGUs, Baungon, Kibawe, Kitaotao and Talakag will undergo offline workshop due to limited mobility and poor internet connectivity. Materials will be provided to the LGUs, as well as technical assistance by the RTPF through face-to-face (as allowed), SMS and phone calls.
Bukidnon is tagged as Priority 1 area under the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet (HDPRC) Cluster due to its high stunting prevalence, high poverty incidence and magnitude and high teenage pregnancy. (NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle)
