SOCCSKSARGEN-NNC XII had conducted a consultative workshop on Local Nutrition Early Warning System for Food and Nutrition Security (LNEWS-FNS) last September 24-25, 2018 at Tampakan, South Cotabato and September 26, 2018 at Kiamba, Sarangani Province which were attended by Municipal Nutrition Committee members, LGU officials, and Presidents of the Associations of Barangay Nutrition Scholars and Barangay Health Workers of the municipality.
The LNEWS-FNS is a surveillance system that aims to build capacities of the local officials and workers in collecting, analyzing, reporting and utilizing food security and nutrition data for evidence-based decision making and program planning. Implementation of the system has generated various practical experiences among LGUs. To mention a few these are the following: 1) high level of acceptance by the LGU to the program, 2) active involvement and cooperation of the data collectors and the sentinel barangays, and 3) result of the survey was used in planning.

The Municipality of Tampakan and Kiamba were identified as expansion areas for the Local Nutrition Early Warning System for Food and Nutrition Security (LNEWS-FNS) in the region because of its high prevalence rate in stunting among preschool children with 12.85% and 26.72% respectively. The said areas were also prone to natural calamities and other disasters affecting food and nutrition security which were viable for the establishment of LNEWS-FNS. This system will help prevent further deterioration of the nutrition situation by understanding the determinants of food insecurity in the area, hence provides useful insights and guide food security initiatives.
The workshop aims to: 1) provide the LGU an overview of the EWS; 2) develop a Food and Nutrition Security Causality Framework; 3) select preliminary indicators to be included in the FNS – EWS; 4) identify barangays that will serve as sentinel areas for monitoring of EWS indicators; and 5) identify the local EWS Team Members.
In addition with the existing LNEWS in Tboli, these expansion areas will become models for scaling up the food and nutrition EWS in the region. (Laurito, RA/NO I)