Catbalogan City, Samar - The provincial government of Samar through the Provincial Nutrition Committee holds Nutrition Summit 2022 last July 21, 2022.
The summit is one of the major activity of the province in celebration of the annual Nutrition Month (NM).
This year’s summit carries the theme “Nutrition and Resilience: The New Normal. The theme is aligned with 48th NM theme “New Normal Na Nutrisyon, Sama-samang Gawan ng Solusyon.”
Both theme calls for solidarity among nutrition stakeholders toward nutrition resilience in the new normal as the country shifts from COViD 19 pandemic to endemic mode.
The summit was participated by provincial leaders headed by Governor and Provincial Nutrition Committee (PNC) Chairperson Hon. Sharee Ann Tan, the provincial board members headed by Vice Governor Arnold Tan and city municipal mayors, vice mayor and sangunian bayan members.
Also present were the Nutrition Action Officers, City/Municipal Health Officers, Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs), provincial department heads and national government agencies.
The summit was also graced by the presence of UNICEF and Koica officials and from the Regional Office of National Nutrition Council (NNC).
The program was officially opened and welcomed by Vice Governor Arnold Tan.
In his opening and welcome message, he emphasized the importance of good nutrition and physical activities specially during the time of COVID 19 pandemic were lockdowns and mobility restrictions were in implemented.
Meanwhile, NNC 8 Regional Nutrition Coordinator Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo, Jr. was one of the main discussants.
He focussed his talk on Newly Elected Officials Nutrition (NEOtrition) Guide as new and returning mayors, vice mayors and SB were present.
He emphasized creation of nutrition offices with permanent plantilla nutrition workers with separate budgets, formulation of 3-year local nutrition plans (LNAPs) with investments and incorporated in their respective development plans and annual investment programs.
Moreover, Dotollo said that LNAPs should be anchored on COVID 19 prevention and response (COVIDizing the plan) and First 1000 days-F1KD (F1KDnizing the plan). Investments to support BNSs and purchase of anthropometric tools to ensure quality and appropriate nutrition data which are essential in planning and budgeting.
Dr. Dotollo also shared minimum staffing requirements of a nutrition office. He further elucidated the roles of nutrition office.
Furthermore, Mr. Pete John Biscarra, UNICEF Nutrition Officer discussed on Improving Nutrition Outcomes in the New Normal. He emphasized to put in place various systems development. He vowed to the LCEs and the participants that UNICEF will be providing technical and financial assistance and resources. #RNPC-CPD
