COTABATO PROVINCE-30 participants had convened at Eva’s Hotel, Kidapawan City last June 28-29, 2018 for PPAN 2018 Development and Enhancement Workshop for Cotabato Province facilitated by the Provincial Nutrition Committee headed by their Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, Mr. Ely Nebrja.

The two-day workshop was attended by members of the Provincial Nutrition Committee (OPAG, PSWD, DTI, IPHO, Prov’l, Population Office and University of Southern Mindanao-Kabacan), Municipal Nutrition Action Officers and representatives from 15 municipalities and 13 UHCI-Nutritionist-Dietitians under DOH Deployment Program.

To guide the participants well, the province invited NNC RO12 to assist in the said workshop represented by NOs II Utlang and Aurel. The two NOs had also presented the PPAN 2017-2022 highlighting its programs and projects as well as giving emphasis on the DILG MC 2018-42 for its Adoption and Implementation at the local level.

PNAO Nebrija said that the workshop is necessary which also aims to consolidate data from the Municipal level through their respective Local Nutrition Action Plans to refine and finalize their PPAN targets.

He also added that the PNC is doing everything and that they have to exert extra efforts in the planning and implementation of nutrition-interventions to cope from their malnutrition status, knowing that Cotabato province is among the PPAN-focused provinces in terms of high stunted children among under five years of age with prevalence rate of 38.9.

The workshop had also served as a venue in enhancing the province’s causal model portraying now a much more realistic view on the causes of malnutrition cited in their province. Thus, it is very much important as for the implementation of various programs that can give feasible impact in helping the economic stability of the province and ultimately, the country. (NO II AUREL/NO III FLORES)