Region X

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 15 April 2021

final TK Ceremonial Signing 14 April 2021, Cagayan de Oro City — The ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Nutrition Council X (NNC X) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Bukidnon, and Marketing Agreement (MA) between NNC X and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations was a success. The activity was conducted last 8 April 2021 at the DAR-Bukidnon Provincial Office Conference Room, Airport Village, Casisang, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Among the attendees of the event were representatives from the DAR Regional Office (DARRO) 10 in the person of Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) I Paul J. Paulin and Agrarian Reform Program Technologist Rholyn A. Jumapit, PARPO II Norberto R. Paquingan, PARPO I Bernardita M. Lozaga, Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer (CARPO) Phoebe I. Noval, and Agrarian Reform Program Officers (ARPOs) of the recipient local government units from DAR-Bukidnon, and representatives from the seven (7) partner ARBOs. Present also during the ceremony were representatives from Bukidnon Province Nutrition Office and Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program (TK DSP) recipient LGUs. Nutrition Program Coordinator (NPC) Gladys Mae S. Fernandez and Provincial Nutrition Coordinator (PNC) Stephanie C. Barrio from NNC X facilitated the activity.

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 15 April 2021

FGDs for PMNP 13 April 2021, Cagayan de Oro City – The National Nutrition Council X organized and facilitated a series of Focus Group Discussions (FGD) in preparation for the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) from 5-13 April 2021.

Target PMNP areas are Cabanglasan, Kalilangan, San Fernando and Talakag, Bukidnon; and Baroy, Kauswagan, Maigo, Matungao, Pantar, Salvador, and Tubod, Lanao del Norte. All municipalities, except Kauswagan, were able to attend the FGDs.

In the conduct of activities, the following were invited to act as respondents: Nutrition Action Officers, District Nutrition Program Coordinators, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Barangay Health Workers, Day Care Workers, other health and nutrition workers, tribal leaders, and indigenous people’s mandatory representatives. Personnel from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Bukidnon accompanied the NNC X team in all the activities conducted in Bukidnon areas.

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 10 April 2021

9 April 2021, Cagayan de Oro City – Members of the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team and representatives from provinces and cities warm up for the conduct of this year’s Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) and Search for Outstanding Local Nutrition Focal Points.

As there have been updates regarding the draft guidelines and following the suspension of monitoring and evaluation activities in 2020, the National Nutrition Council X hosted a virtual orientation on the updated guidelines of the MELLPI Pro last 6 April 2021, attended by 46 RNET members and provincial/city nutrition focal points.

Covered during the orientation were the salient features of the updated guidelines including the background of the MELLPI Pro, its mechanics, and awarding system. NNC X likewise discussed the conduct of M&E in the new normal, which will involve specific strategies and mechanisms depending on the quarantine classification of the area to be visited. Nutrition Program Coordinator Gladys Mae S. Fernandez informed the group on the updates of the scheduled validation activities by the National Evaluation Team, involving the local government units (LGUs) vying for national awards. These are Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental Province and Cagayan de Oro City.

Queries from the participants were taken in and answered by the facilitators, while some points for clarification were forwarded to the Nutrition Surveillance Division of NNC.

The LGU representatives identified their preferred initial schedule of the M&E activities for consideration of the RNET and secretariat.

More coordination activities will be done by the NNC X secretariat with the RNET members and the LGUs for the conduct of M&E, which shall include the dissemination of approved guidelines for the conduct of MELLPI during pandemics/disasters once available, and finalization of M&E schedules. (NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle)

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 14 April 2021

9 radyo kalilang 14 April 2021, Cagayan de Oro City - Nutrition Program Coordinator Gladys Mae S. Fernandez and Nutrition Officer I Vazamija Therese A. Villasi of the National Nutrition Council Region X facilitated the unannounced monitoring of Radyo Kalilang in Kalilangan, Bukidnon last 12 April 2021. The regional office scheduled the unannounced monitoring visit to the station as a part of the regular activity for the Nutriskwela Community Radio Program. Present during the monitoring was Station Manager Roger Palma.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges upon the station and the LGU with regards to the shipment of the repaired transmitter from Dumaguete City. Nonetheless, the station management and the local government leans forward to future plans once the station resumes its operations. Some of these are the possible transfer of station location, and reorganization of the Community Radio Council.

The NNC X team was also able to meet Municipal Mayor Omaradji C. Pizarro to discuss issues and the result of the monitoring visit.

Radyo Kalilang Community Radio Station with the local government unit continues to find a way to restart its operations. NNC X will continue to monitor and provide technical support to Radyo Kalilang. (NO I Vazamija Therese A. Villasi)

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 09 April 2021

8 Enjoy a healthy summer PAGASA announced towards the end of March that the country’s hot dry season, often called summer, is here. As the song goes by, “Here comes the sun, and I say, it's all right”, summer is a time to recharge and relax after strenuous months of hurdling and sitting in the office, attending virtual meetings or classes in the new normal set-up brought by the pandemic.

Authorities continue to advise people to stay at home over traveling, since it increases your chances of contracting or spreading the virus.

What’s safe and not when it comes to enjoying summer during COVID-19? Here are the things to consider as summer hits during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Details: Category: Region 10; Published: 13 April 2021

1st Sem Salt Monitoring

12 April 2021, Cagayan de Oro City – To ensure that only adequately iodized salt are distributed in the stores and establishments in Northern Mindanao, the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) X conducted the 1^st Semester Salt Monitoring at Ozamiz and Malaybalay City Public Markets last 23 and 25 March 2021, respectively.

The monitoring teams were composed of the Department of Health Center for Health Development-Northern Mindanao (DOH CHD-NM), Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Office 10, Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Salinas Foods, Inc. and National Nutrition Council (NNC) X. The teams were assisted by Misamis Occidental PBATF, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) Marichu G. Tijing and staff and CNAO Lelita G. Navarez in Ozamiz City, and Bukidnon Provincial Health Office staff and CNAO Eza C. Canonigo in Malaybalay City.

The task force collected salt samples in the major salt retailers/stores in both cities which were tested for iodine levels afterwards. Test results showed that all 11 salt samples collected from the Ozamiz City Public Market have iodine content. However, only one (1) salt sample is compliant to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required standard of iodine content of 30-70 parts per million (ppm). Meanwhile, four (4) out of 10 salt samples in Malaybalay City are within the FDA required iodine content.