Siquijor, Siquijor – While the rest of the country braces itself to the onslaught of Typhoon Ineng, members of the Regional Nutrition Committee – Technical Working Group brave stormy weather and big waves to help re-awaken the Siquijor Provincial Nutrition Committee on 19 August 2015.

Summoned by Governor Zaldy S. Villa, Provincial Heads of Offices (PSWDO, PHO, DOST, PA, DILG, DepEd, Planning Office, Treasurer’s Office, etc.) gather at the governor’s office for a meeting with the RNC-TWG (represented by the DOST, DA, Feed and the NNC 7 secretariat) to draft action points for the activation of the Provincial Nutrition Committee and the formulation of a provincial nutrition action plan.

Having hibernated for several years, the Provincial Nutrition Committee is slowly awakening to the need to ramp up nutrition interventions in order to address the deteriorating nutritional status of the province. The 8th National Nutrition Survey conducted in 2013 reports increase in malnutrition prevalence rate and changes in lifestyle behaviors that increase the risk to overweight and obesity as well as non-communicable diseases.

First stop towards achieving a better nutritional landscape is the revitalization of the local nutrition committee and the formulation of local nutrition action plan, which the PNC decided to formally conduct on 22 September 2015.

Second is providing nutrition workers with necessary capability building, mobilizing and monitoring tools to conduct their daily activities. The body has also agreed to look into possibilities of providing these workers (the Barangay Nutrition Scholars) with monetary compensation for their hard work. //NGS