CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, LA UNION- The Regional Nutrition Committee of Region 1 passes five (5) of its drafted resolutions during the First RNC Regular Meeting conducted last 29 June 2021 via Zoom.

Before the said meeting, the drafted resolutions were reviewed by the Regional Nutrition Planning and Evaluation Team (RNPET), being the technical arm of the RNC through a special session for initial endorsement to the RNC.

Meanwhile, the interagency meeting was presided by Dr. Jimuel Cardenas, Chief of Local Health Support Division, in behalf of Dr. Valeriano Jesus Lopez, Chairperson of the RNC1 and Regional Director of DOH-CHD1. The discussion circulated among the following agenda: a) Approval of the five RNC Resolutions for 2021, b) 2021 Regional Celebration of Nutrition Month Activities, c) Agencies updates, d) Other matters and announcements.

First among the approved policies is entitled, “Provision of Additional Recognitions to Performing LGUs During the Annual Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony” that incorporates the provision of awards to Local Government Units on the following: a) Consistent Malnutrition Reduction, b) RA 11148/F1K Adopters, and c) Nutrition Champions during COVID-19 Pandemic.

The mechanics and guidelines will soon be out and that the results on each of the awards to be given will be deliberated and finalized by the RNPET during the MELLPI Pro Deliberation and to be approved by the RNC.

Second resolution entitled as, “Requesting The RDC Through The RSDC To Encourage All LGUs In Region 1 to Consider Inclusion Of Ready-To-Use Complementary Foods in the Food Packs During Emergencies And Disasters for Families with 6-23 Months Old Children” to be used guide and reference for all LGUs against to the possible decline of nutritional status of the vulnerable groups particularly the F1K target groups during calamities.

Third resolution states that the dietary supplementation program for pregnant and 6-23 months old children is not yet an institutionalized program to all LGUs but through the joint advocacy of all sectors in the inclusion of the program in the local investment for nutrition can further improve the coverage of the six critical interventions for the First 1000 Days on the identified vulnerable target groups titled as, “Enjoining All Local Government Units to Implement and Adopt Dietary Supplementation for Pregnant and 6-23 Months Old Children to Address Stunting Problem and Other Possible Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic in the Health and Nutrition Situation”.

The fourth resolution on the other hand aims to convey a regional partnership uniting people from civil society or non-government organizations, developmental partners, business, and academe in a collective effort to improve nutrition and to push for the realization of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) and its localized form with its title: “Adopting the Scaling-Up Nutrition (Sun) 3.0 Strategy in Region I and Organization of Sun Movement Networks”.

Lastly, the fifth resolution entitled as: “Enjoining All Local Government Units (LGUs) to Create Nutrition Offices and Hire Permanent Nutrition Action Officers with Adequate Support Staff And Strengthen Local Nutrition Programs with the Increase in LGU IRA Shares from the Implementation of the Supreme Court Ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia Petitions, with Ardent Request for the LGUs with Sufficient Resources to Create Permanent NAO Plantilla Subject to PS Limits”, with its list of proposed options was approved by the body in a frontward vision that all LGU budgets are expected to increase by 2022 onwards in due contemplation to the national programs that will be devolved which includes nutrition.

The proposed options for strengthening the LGU Nutrition Program through the establishment of a nutrition office or hiring of LGU personnel for nutrition attached to the said resolution is intended to be considered by all Local Chief Executives with their planning team on the allocation of their local funds on the PPAs included in their respective local nutrition action which shall be formulated in accordance with the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2017-2022.

In conclusion, all approved resolutions were disseminated to all members of the RNC with continuous advocacy for the effective adoption of all five policies by all LGUs in region 1./WNL