23 February 2021, Cagayan de Oro City – The Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC)-Technical Working Group (TWG)/Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) convened its first regular meeting on 19 February 2021 via online.
RNET Chairperson Arlita Amapola B. Minguez of CHED 10 presided over the meeting attended by 19 RTWG/RNET members and representatives, and the Secretariat team led by Nutrition Program Coordinator Gladys Mae S. Fernandez.
Under the new business, the group tackled first the MELLPI Pro Guidelines which gives guidance for the conduct of monitoring and evaluation of nutrition program implementation. Nutrition Officer III Sheena Marie G. Talle discussed the updates. She also shared that the supplemental guidelines for the conduct of M & E in the new normal will be provided by NNC Central Office. To continue, she also presented the preferred initial schedule of LGUs for M & E activities.
NO II Arlie Joy O. Damiles presented the updates on the Regional Nutrition Situation, which highlighted the results of the 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey and 2020 Operation Timbang Plus. The 2019 ENNS results covered provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental. The stunting prevalence of all provinces from 2015 to 2019 decreased, per 2019 ENNS results. The regional OPT Plus results show decreased prevalence for all indicators. NO II Damiles also shared the updates on provincial and city malnutrition trends, as well as the top 10 ranking of municipalities in all malnutrition indicators.
After which Provincial Nutrition Coordinator Stephanie C. Barrio shared the updates of the Tutok Kainan Supplementation Program for Bukidnon Province. She provided the updates and the ongoing social preparation activities being undertaken by the recipient LGUs.
Nutrition Program Coordinator Gladys Mae S. Fernandez shared the upcoming activities of the NNC X, emphasizing the activities with involvement of the RNC member agencies such as the conduct of regular meetings, monitoring and evaluation, training on Nutrition in Emergencies-Information Management, shepherding LGUs initiative, Program Implementation Review, among others.
The last agenda was the presentation of two draft RNC resolutions for comments of the body. The first being a resolution enjoining the LGUs to use the updated electronic OPT Plus tool for acute malnutrition as discussed by NO II Damiles. No comments were given by the body.
The second draft resolution was on the shepherding LGUs initiative. NPC Fernandez discussed first the background of the LGU mobilization strategy and the said initiative in improving nutrition program management. She shared the strategies on capacitating the Regional Shepherding Team, as well as the team composition and functions. NPC Fernandez then proceeded to the draft resolution. Comments from the body included the updating of team composition based on the LGU Mentoring Team organized in 2017.
To wrap up the meeting, all the agreements were presented by NO III Talle for action by the concerned offices. NNC X as the Secretariat will continue to follow-through action lines and coordinate with the member agencies. (NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle)
