The National Nutrition Council monitors and appraises the progress of the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) at various levels. One of the tools used is the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) Pro. MELLPI Pro emphasizes assessment of LGU’s progress towards compliance to quality standard. The tool is also used to assess the performance of the local nutrition workers such as Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs), District/City Nutrition Program Coordinators (D/CNPCs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs).
Hence, the 10 Municipalities of South Cotabato Province invited NNC XII to serve as Resource Person for the MELLPI Pro tool orientations in their locality. Series of orientations were held on Dec 11, 2020, January 7, 2021, and January 14, 2021 for the Municipalities of Norala, T’boli and Polomolok, respectively. Other LGUs scheduled their orientation late of January to February. The said orientation was attended by the BNC members and BNSs of each Barangays in every Municipality. The activity aims to update and guide the participants and to increase the quality, efficacy and sustainability of nutrition services and delivery system in their respective Barangays.
One of the topics discussed during the orientations is the roles of BNS in the PPAN 2017-2022 to remind them of their roles and functions in PPAN and encourage to perform their functions efficiently and effectively being the frontline nutrition workers in the community, thus lead to the success of PPAN.
Likewise, MELLPI Pro tool was presented by Nutrition Officer II Danah Pearl Aurel. She explained the success metrics and the six (6) dimensions on which the barangay nutrition committees will be evaluated. She explained the performance indicators of every dimension such as: 1) vision and mission; 2) nutrition laws and policies; 3) governance and organizational structure; 4) management roles of the local nutrition committee; 5) interventions/services in nutrition; and 6) update on the nutritional status of the LGU.
In addition, NOII Leah Fe Utlang discussed the indicators used to evaluate the performance of local nutrition workers in performing their roles and functions along with the provision of local nutrition services in terms of: 1) Coordination; 2) Advocacy; 3) Planning; 4) Implementation; 5) Monitoring and evaluation; 6) Resource generation; 7) Documentation and record keeping; and 8) Capacity building.
The Barangay Nutrition Committees together with the Barangay Nutrition Scholars are expected to execute their duties and responsibilities in line with the Nutrition Program, consistent with the dimensions and components stated in the MELLPI Pro tool. Moreover, to avoid interfering with the roles and activities of other barangay-based staff, the BNS must consider its roles and functions. BNCs and BNSs expressed their appreciation on the tool as it helped them understand better of their roles, contributions, and deliverables essential for the PPAN implementation. (LFU/AMF/NPC)
