Cebu City – Members of the Central Visayas Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) convened on 23 February 2023, for its first full committee meeting for 2023. Presided by Department of Agriculture (DA) RFO 7 Chief for Administrative & Finance Division Mr. Melquiades B. Ibarra representing the RNC Vice Chair and DA RFO 7 RD Joel A. Elumba, the meeting was attended by 24 participants from 14 NGAs, NGOs, and reps LGUs.

Tackled during the meeting were the RNC Resolution on Enjoining LGUs to conduct local Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementary Program including the guidelines for local implementation, the schedule of the 2023 MELLPI Pro, the 2023 Nutrition Month Plan, and the 2023 Regional Nutrition Cluster Plan.

The RNC served as the region’s structure for coordination, harmonization, and complementation of the implementation of nutrition and related programs, projects, and strategies among government, non-government, and civil society organizations with the main purpose of improving the nutrition situation in Central Visayas.

The group has agreed to make several improvements to the local TKSP guidelines including creating a flow chart for the TKSP services, linking existing local health and social service programs, and incorporating livelihood training for parents of beneficiaries as one of the complementary activities.

Furthermore, the committee has given a green light for the preparatory activities of the upcoming Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) Pro and has committed to sending their technical working members and alternate focal persons to join the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) orientation more so the actual monitoring activities.

The meeting also served as a venue for the committee to present the latest status of each agency’s RPAN accomplishment which is vital in the finalization of the new Regional Nutrition Plan of Action for Nutrition (RPAN) for 2023-2028.

World Health Organization’s Technical Specialist for Maternal and Child Nutrition Mr. Andre B. Flores was also present during the meeting where he shared inputs in the nutrition cluster plan, the local TKSP Guidelines, and some insights on the programs, projects, and activities for the successor RPAN in Central Visayas. // Norre Jean V. delos Santos