The Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) VIII convenes a meeting for the first time to tackle issues and concerns on nutrition program implementation in the region on 22 August 2017 at Hotel Alejandro in Tacloban City.

One of the main agenda of the meeting is the presentation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 which was discussed intensively by the NNC VIII RNPC Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo. This was subsequently endorsed by the Committee for adoption by the Regional Development Council-Social Development Committee (RDC-SDC) during its Third Quarter Meeting in September 2017.

RNC Chairperson and Department of Health (DOH) VIII Regional Director Minerva P. Molon said that the endorsement of the plan to the regional level will convey more stakeholders and agencies to support and implement the nutrition programs which aimed at reducing malnutrition and eventually contribute to the country’s commitment on sustainable development goals (SDG) particularly SDG number 2.

The Committee likewise agreed to include in the next meeting discussion for the inclusion of nutrition indicators in the assessment criteria for conferment of the seal of good governance for local government units. A technical working group was also organized to work on the criteria for institutions or entities which have intent to be member of the RNC.

The first meeting was well attended in by RNC members to include: Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Eastern Viasayas State University (EVSU), Eastern Visayas Association of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (EVA-BNS), and Harmonized Initiatives of Media for the Spread of Good Nutrition in Region 8 (HIMSoG-8).