The National Nutrition Council Region 12 has just concluded the orientation on Food and Nutrition Security-Early Warning System to the new household level survey enumerators of Tboli, South Cotabato which was held at Villa Amor Hotel, Koronadal City on January 24 – 25, 2017.

FNS-EWS is a form of monitoring and analysis of relevant information that may foretell a possible crisis such as food shortage or health problem. The survey will also provide evidence-based to the local officials in planning and executing timely and appropriate interventions on nutrition and food security.The National Nutrition Council spearhead it to mitigate hunger and malnutrition especially to areas with high prevalence of malnutrition and prone to disasters.

The municipality of Tboli is the only LGU in region XII with established FNS-EWS since 2015 with five sentinel barangays involved. Tboli municipality has a total of 25 barangays. The municipal council appreciated the importance of the periodic survey and the indicators are helpful in identifying factors that affect food insecurity and malnutrition. Hence, during the Executive Legislative Agenda planning of the LGU for 2017, the council recommended that all barangays shall be covered/involved. The local chief executive approved and provided funds for food security projects.

Anent to this, the Tboli FNS-EWS core group requested the NNC XII to orient the 22 household level data enumerators or the barangay nutrition scholars from the 20 barangays. After the orientation to capacitate the volunteer workers, the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer, Ms. Rosedane Sta. Maria vowed to assist and support the activity and ready to conduct the quarterly collection of data which will commence on the 2nd week of April 2017. (AMFLORES/NNCXII)