General Santos City - 29 participants composed of District/City Nutrition Program Coordinators (D/CNPCs), City/Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (C/MNAOs), Nutririonist-Dietitians and other technical staff who are designated trainers in their respective areas, gathered during the Training of Trainers on Basic Course for Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) held on September 9-13, 2013 at Family Country Hotel and Convention Centre in General Santos City.

The training team include: Ms. Camille C. Marron, Training Assistant of Pollution Control Association of the Philippines (PCAPI) Region IV-A Chapter, PNAO Maria Ana D. Uy (South Cotabato), CNAO Veronica M. Daut (Koronadal City), Nutrition Program Coordinator Arceli M. Latonio, Nutrition Officer III Gladys Mae S. Fernandez and secretariat from NNC XII. A combination of training methods were used by the trainers such as lectures, group discussions, exercises, role playing and games using the module developed by the Institute of Human Nutrition and Food (IHNF) of the College of Human Ecology of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in partnership with the National Nutrition Council (NNC).

The training aims to equip provincial, city and municipal level nutrition workers in conducting training for new and existing BNSs. Part of the capacity building for BNSs is to educate them on their basic knowledge and skill and their expected roles in the barangay nutrition program management.

NNC XII is very hopeful that this will capacitate nutrition workers and impart their knowledge to the BNSs for them to be able to contribute to the improvement of the barangay nutrition situation and to the achievement of the goals of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) and, in turn, the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).