PALO, LEYTE – As part of the 46th Nutrition Month Celebration, the National Nutrition Council Region 8 spearheaded the first-ever virtual Barangay Nutrition Scholars’ (BNS) Day in the region on 24 July 2020 through the virtual meeting platform, Google Meet.

Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr., the Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator, shared in his message his sentiments towards the crucial role of the BNS in nutrition. The BNS play an integral role in preventing stunting and fostering healthier children in the barangay level. In times of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BNS are also at the forefront in ensuring the health and safety of the people.

Mr. Russell Pascual, Development Management Officer IV of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), served as the resource person and gave a comprehensive discussion on the adoption and implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN). He emphasized the participation as the most vital approach towards implementing efficient nutrition programs.

Mr. Pascual reiterated that the participation of the BNS’s in the Barangay Nutrition Action Plan (BNAP) implementation is of utmost importance as the BNS’s understand the nutrition situation in the barangay the most.

While previous BNS Days are conducted face-to-face, NNC resorted to using virtual platforms in most nutrition month events this year to abide by strict health protocols. BNS Lydia Nunez, the President of the Eastern Visayas-Association of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (EVA-BNS) appreciated that despite the threat of COVID-19 the BNS's were able to see each other virtually.

With over 500 BNS attendees, the event concluded on the 24th of July successfully carrying out its objective of recognizing the crucial role of the Barangay Nutrition Scholars in the delivery of nutrition and related services especially on the prevention of stunting and other forms of malnutrition in their respective communities. Presidential Decree No. 1569 mandated the deployment of one BNS in every barangay in the country to monitor the nutritional status of children and/or link communities with nutrition and related service providers. #DAFLendero