Cebu City – Barangay Budlaan in Cebu City was recommended by the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) as one of the pretesting sites of the NNC-UPLB project "Development of Barangay Nutrition Program Management Handbook".
The initial proposal by NNC 7 was affirmed by the RNET composed of its chair and PAN Cebu Chapter President Jarvis Prochina, ND II Sarah Belle Antiola of DOH CV CHD and PAN Cebu Chapter member Philadelfa Gaviola. The team together NO II Norre Jean Delos Santos and NO I Gabriel Flores of NNC 7 went to Barangay Budlaan on 31 March 2022 for the 2022 Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation Protocol (MELLPI Pro) of Cebu City. The barangay was selected as one of the sample barangays of the city to be visited by the RNET. The inclusion of barangays in the annual MELLPI PRO follows RNC Resolution No. 020-02 (s. 2020) also known as “Expanding the Regional MELLPI PRO Coverage and Enjoining Local Nutrition Committees to Adopt the MELLPI PRO” which stipulates the inclusion of sample barangays in the annual monitoring and evaluation to widen provision of technical assistance to LGUs.
The National Nutrition Council in partnership with the University of the Philippines Los Banos will be developing a handbook on Barangay Nutrition Program Management to guide barangay functionaries in administering the nutrition program at the barangay level. Barangay Budlaan was chosen to represent Metro Cebu being a barangay with functional BNC with at least 12 members, have not participated in any consultative meetings on the project and with strong internet connection.
Other study participants include Brgy. San Jose, Tagaytay City representing Luzon; Brgy. Cabunga-an, Tarangnan, Samar for the Visayas; Brgy. Crossing Palkan, Polomok, South Cotabato on behalf of Mindanao; Brgy. Seferegen, Upi, Maguindanao representing BARMM; and Brgy. Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City for Metro Manila.
Barangay Budlaan is a barangay with a first termer Punong Barangay in first class city, a non-indigenous people area and non-GIDA area. Their Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) is the nominee of Cebu City for 2022 most outstanding BNC and considered as a decorated BNC in terms of their implementation of nutrition programs. // NO I Gab Flores, RND
