28 March 2021, Cagayan de Oro City — The National Nutrition Council X virtually convened the officers of the regional associations of nutrition workers last 24 March 2021 for their regular updating and conduct of associations’ meeting.

30 officers from the Nutrition Action Officers Association of the Philippines (NAOPA) Inc., Northern Mindanao Chapter, District/City Nutrition Program Coordinators Association of the Philippines (DCNPCAP), Region X Inc. and the National Barangay Nutrition Scholars Federation (NaBNS Fed.) Inc., Northern Mindanao Chapter attended the virtual meeting.

NNC X Nutrition Program Coordinator Gladys Mae S. Fernandez, in her Opening Message, thanked the local government units (LGUs) for their continuous implementation of nutrition programs, especially on the First 1000 Days.

The first update presented by NNC X was on the Regional Nutrition Situation Updates by Nutrition Officer II Arlie Joy O. Damiles. She presented the results of the 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey of select provinces and 2020 Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus results, including the prevalence, trends, and ranking of municipalities per indicator. NO II Damiles also shared the Region 10 areas included in the Top 10 ranking of LGUs in the national level.

NPC Fernandez informed the officers on the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s Study on Maternal Nutrition Status and Weight Gain. The study aims to determine the maternal nutrition status and pattern of gestational weight gain (GWG) to establish a reference curve for GWG per trimester of pregnancy. NPC Fernandez requested the provinces to endorse the FNRI Project Team to the study areas, and to assist the team in the data collection.

To add, NPC Fernandez also presented the proposed Focus Group Discussion on the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) which will cover select municipalities in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte. She enumerated the target participants and the key areas of inquiries for the FGD.

NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle shared the results of the 2020 policy review of the Regional Development Council (RDC) X Reso. No. 38, s.2016 entitled, “Supporting the Adoption and Promotion of Pinggang Pinoy for Specific Age Groups, including the assessment results and recommendations. She likewise informed the body of the 2021 policy review for RDC X Reso. No. 37, s.2016 on the use of prescribed measuring tools in the conduct of OPT Plus. Mechanism for the 2021 policy review will require the LGUs to submit responses in pen and paper or online format.

The next agenda was on the 2021 Nutrition Month campaign as discussed by NO I Vazamija Therese A. Villasi. In her presentation, she shared that the 2021 NM theme is, “Malnutrisyon patuloy na labanan, First 1000 Days tutukan!”. NO I Villasi enumerated the campaign objectives, and the key activities to increase understanding and appreciation by the public on the First 1000 Days.

NO I Villasi likewise shared the NNC Online Recall Survey Findings, highlighting the results for Northern Mindanao. More people are familiar on 2020 NM messages, followed by the 10 Kumainments, First 1000 Days, and the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition. NO I Villasi invited the officers to rethink and revise the advocacy campaign strategies for increased and better recall of NNC’s programs.

Provincial Nutrition Coordinator Stephanie C. Barrio shared program updates of the ongoing Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TK DSP) for pregnant women in Bukidnon Province. Ongoing efforts, coordination activities and technical assistance were among PNC Barrio’s updates. Consequently, NO III Talle presented initial information on the TK DSP for Lanao del Norte Province, which will cover children aged 6-23 months old. The program identified seven target areas for the TK DSP.

The nutrition workers were reminded of the submission of regular nutrition reports to NNC X by NO II Damiles. She encouraged the use of reporting templates provided by NNC X to facilitate reports submission.

NPC Fernandez shared to the body the Regional Shepherding LGUs Initiative, which will mobilize performing LGUs to guide and mentor other LGUs for improved nutrition program management. To strengthen the Regional Shepherding Team composition, NNC X presented the proposed new members of the RST, with the old members derived from the previous years’ LGU Mentoring Team.

Lastly, NO III Talle presented the updates on the Compendium of Local Ordinances on Nutrition initiative which is a platform for sharing existing and functional policies to scale up nutrition in the local level.

Before the plenary session was adjourned, NNC X reminded the officers on issues and updates on the BNS assistance requests, IDs for the BNSs, as well as the upcoming conduct of reorientation for the monitoring and evaluation mechanism for nutrition programs.

All the officers proceeded to their respective business meetings in the afternoon. (NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle)