22 September 2021, Cagayan de Oro City – In line with the National Nutrition Council (NNC) memorandum signed 17 August 2021, a Provincial Nutrition Focal Point (PNFP) was hired for the Early Childhood Care and Development-First 1000 Days (ECCD-F1K) Program in Lanao del Norte Province.

The PNFP, in the person of Ms. Lizelle L. Bete, RND, will act as the focal person for the Phase 3 and Phase 4 Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program implementation in the said province. The two phases will deliver supplementary feeding program for almost 1,600 children aged 6-23 months old for 180 days.

As new member of the NNC Region 10 team, Nutrition Program Coordinator Gladys Mae S. Fernandez, and Ms. Sheena Marie G. Talle, Nutrition Officer III, oriented PNFP Bete last 20 September 2021 on the overview of NNC, including its mandates, programs, operations, and the roles and responsibilities of a PNFP.

PNFP Bete will conduct facilitation of social preparation activities, coordinate the dietary supplementation component, ensure implementation of the nutrition education and food demonstration component, and facilitate program monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.

The hiring of PNFP for the program in Lanao del Norte warrants better coordination and implementation as NNC aims to provide dietary supplementation to target groups under the First 1000 Days period.

Lanao del Norte is the second province in the region to receive the Tutok Kainan DSP, after Bukidnon. Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon are included as priority provinces under the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster (HDPRC). (NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle)