As the focal person for nutrition in the Province of Misamis Occidental, it was no easy feat to plan and coordinate actions to lift the Province from one of the top nutritionally-depressed provinces in 2015 to become one of the top performers on nutrition in the country today.

Ms. Marichu “Ichu” G. Tijing’s remarkable stint as Provincial Nutrition Action Officer of Misamis Occidental earned her the first ever title of National Outstanding PNAO in 2021. Despite the hardships and challenges she encountered, PNAO Tijing’s nine years of service is continuously fueled by her purpose and passion to help people, and to further aid the local nutrition offices under the Province’s guidance.

Together with the support of their local chief executive, Provincial Nutrition Committee members, and her able Provincial Nutrition Action Office staff, PNAO Tijing was able to execute her functions well, and even beyond what is expected from a PNAO. Below are her notable best practices:

• Close coordination with networks and advocacy to stakeholders. PNAO Tijing is known for her good interpersonal relationships and advocacy and communication skills, which she resonates with her staff. Through this, she and her staff are able to mobilize well their PNC members, and pool various types of sustained support from stakeholders inside and outside of the committee. Additionally, her continuous lobbying to their PNC members resulted to intensified ownership and involvement in implementing the Provincial Nutrition Action Plan (PNAP).

• Mobilization of stakeholders for nutrition program augmentation. One of the most noteworthy initiatives of PNAO Tijing is how she mobilized stakeholders such as HAPAG-ASA, PAGLAUM MPC and University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines – Oroquieta. Manna Pack, a food commodity given by the province for dietary supplementation beneficiaries across different localities, were innovated to relieve taste fatigue among the feeding beneficiaries. Local nutrition workers were trained, and pilot areas for this initiative are seeing positive results in terms of acceptability.

• Comprehensive intersectoral and inter-level planning for nutrition. Not only does the province has an adequately funded PNAP, but PNAO Tijing makes sure that she gets to sit down during planning workshops at the provincial level. From the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP), Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA), and Annual Investment Programs, the nutrition programs, projects and activities are integrated as she recognizes its substantial inputs to socio-economic progress in the province. This also goes to show that through her persistent efforts, planning core groups gain more appreciation of the program, as evidenced by investments allocated. Further, PNAO Tijing steers the Local Nutrition Committees in the province by conducting focused technical assistance sessions to enhance the cities and municipalities’ nutrition action plans. She likewise coaches the C/MNAOs on how they can lobby and strategize nutrition programs.

• Enhancing capacities of nutrition workers at provincial and local levels. PNAO Tijing acknowledges that aside from the technical competencies of nutrition workers, leadership and advocacy skills are important. She instills these to her C/MNAOs and BNSs to ensure that the direction and goals of the PNC is replicated at the local levels. PNAO Tijing further stretches her helping hand and expertise to LGUs even outside of Misamis Occidental. Currently, she is the Vice Chairperson of the Northern Mindanao Mentoring Initiative for Nutrition (NorMIN) Regional Shepherding Team, which is composed of nutrition awardees and experts at the regional and local levels who guide and mentor fellow LGUs for better nutrition program management. PNAO Tijing also involved the PNC members, on top of the new local nutrition focal points, as participants during their refresher course for BNSs. Through this training, the PNC members gained greater appreciation and understanding on the work of a BNS, as well as that of the Barangay Nutrition Program.

Aside from the laurels she and the PNC received from the national and regional levels, PNAO Tijing considers the mainstreaming of nutrition programs at the ground level as one of her best accomplishments. She was able to rally support from the municipalities to support the cause of the province for nutrition improvement.

Despite her accomplishments, she remains humble and consistent in acknowledging the leadership of the Provincial Government, the PNC, and her staff. “Recognition is only recognition. It all started with a good heart and good intentions,” PNAO Tijing said. (PNAO Misamis Occidental/ NNC X)