TACLOBAN CITY -- The Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) of Eastern Visayas visited four towns of Northern Samar province for Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) on August 22 to 25, this year.
Yearly the National Nutrition Council (NNC) spearheads the conduct of MELLPI to target provinces, cities/municipalities and their barangays to: 1. Assess the progress of the Local Government Unit's (LGU) nutrition plan implementation; 2. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the LGU in its implementation of local nutrition programs; 3. Institute appropriate corrective measures; and 4. Facilitate the achievement of local nutrition plan objectives .
The RNET team headed by Sharmie Nicole Tansingco and Ayra Mae Simborio of NNC Region 8, together with Eunice De Guia and Willyfredo Sales of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), and the media-group partner of NNC-8 Harmonized Initiatives of Media for the Spread of Good Nutrition in Region 8 (HIMSoG-8) represented by President Tony C. Pueblos, Vice President Jacob C. Gadaingan, and Cecelia Tibo conducted MELLPI first in the province's 1st district towns of Allen and Bobon on Aug. 22 to 23.
On the second leg of MELLPI to the second district towns of Mapanas and Gamay that is only accessible by boat from the capital town of Catarman. The evaluation team was joined by National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) representative Resurrection Enage and Ullasini J. Pangan of NNC-8. This as the ADRA representations pulled-out for an scheduled activity in their base-town Bato, Leyte.
The port-town of Allen is considered as gateway to Luzon and Mindanao in Eastern Visayas on road transportation. This 5th class municipality is composed of 20 barangays, and is headed by Lady-Mayor Laureana D. Suan. Overseeing the nutrition activities is Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) Ma. Josefa C. Francisco.
Already a multi awardee in nutrition the latest of which is 2015 Municipal Nutrition Green Banner Award, Bobon a 4th class municipality next to capital town Catarman. It is composed of 18 barangays and is headed by Mayor Remy A. Celespara. The town's nutrition affairs is managed by MNAO Teresita G. De Dios.
Albeit Mapanas and Gamay are component towns of Northern Samar, particularly of 2nd district, they are only accessible from Catarman and the rest of the province through boat transportation from the port-barangay of Rawis in Laoang town--which serves as the jump-off point to actually four 2nd district towns namely Palapag, Mapanas, Gamay and Lapinig. However said isolated towns of Northern Samar are now accessible by road transportation via Eastern Samar province through the Arteche-Taft-Hinabangan (Buray) route.
The town of Mapanas is a 5th class municipality composed of 13 barangays, and is headed by Mayor Francis John Tejano--a believer in good health his wife being a doctor. So that this Pacific Ocean coast town boasts of a very impressive Rural Health Unit. Its nutrition activities is supervised by MNAO Annable Aboy.
Also a 5th class municipality situated along the Pacific coast, Gamay is composed of 26 barangays and is headed by Mayor Henry Gomba. The town's nutrition affairs is ran MNAO Shirley A. Longcop. (Jack C. Gadaingan)
