The National Nutrition Council joined the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) NEO or Newly Elected Officials Orientation Course: Primed Leaders for Renewed Local Governance held at Paradise Garden Resort Hotel and Convention Center, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan on July 27-28, 2022. The NEO Orientation Course is the first learning intervention under component 2: Jumpstarting Local Governance in the Program for NEOs. The program for Newly-Elected Officials (NEOs) is term-based program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government conducted through the Local Government Academy (LGA) in its commitment to provide a harmonized and holistic capacity development mechanism for local governments all over the country. With the assumption to office of the NEOs last June 30, 2022, the crucial needed exists for our locally elected officials to do well on their campaign promises and make concrete and actionable reforms in their respective communities.

NNC is committed to continuously promote and advocate nutrition program implementation at the local levels especially to the first-termer Mayors. As one if the exhibitors in the event, NNC could showcase the best programs and services that the NEOs could adopt and replicate in their respective communities. NNC also showcased various IEC materials and guidelines on why and how the LGUs invest and implement nutrition programs in their respective communities. NNC Region VI Staff explained the guide in ensuring nutrition priorities in local development plans and budgets- a thematic guide and companion document to the CDP Illustrative Guide. Also the Staff presented to the newly-elected Mayors the Ascent of Local Governments in Nutrition in the Philippines which they could replicate other LGUs best practices and become a nutrition champion as well.