“It’s important that our barangays are fully informed about the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2017-2022 as a framework for implementing solutions to lack of proper nutrition, and the boost that the Mandanas-Garcia ruling of the Supreme Court will have on local nutrition programs.”
This was the statement of Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Monday, October 4, 2021 during the Virtual Dialogue with Punong Barangays: Enabling Nutrition Devolution, participated in by the National Nutrition Council (NNC), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (LBP).
Nograles strongly encouraged barangay leaders and other stakeholders to prioritize nutrition needs in their localities.
Nograles was joined during the event by DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño, NNC Assistant Secretary and NNC Executive Director Azucena Dayanghirang, DBM Director John Aries Macaspac and DILG Director Anna Liza Bonagua who all served as resource speakers.
Nograles explained the importance of the Barangay Nutrition Action Plans (BNAPs) and Barangay Nutrition Committees (BNCs) as vital tools under the nutrition governance system of barangays.
In his message, the Malacañang official, who also chairs the government’s Task Force Zero Hunger, stressed that “with the implementation of EO 138 or the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling, we expect Local Chief Executives, particularly Punong Barangays and SK officials, to strengthen and closely integrate nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs in their respective local policies and plans.”
In his message, the Malacañang official, who also chairs the government’s Task Force Zero Hunger, stressed that “with the implementation of EO 138 or the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling, we expect Local Chief Executives, particularly Punong Barangays and SK officials, to strengthen and closely integrate nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs in their respective local policies and plans.”
The dialogue was organized to assess gains and project plans for the government’s nutrition initiatives, and to pinpoint high-performing barangay nutrition committees that can be possible models for good practices.
The virtual dialogue was participated in by 7,400 Punong Barangays, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, members of Barangay Nutrition Committees, Sangguniang Kabataan Chairpersons as well as members of the NNC Governing Board and Technical Committee.
Nograles strongly encouraged barangay leaders and other stakeholders to prioritize nutrition needs in their localities, saying “let’s invest in nutrition and in the development of our children’s physical and mental development, which are crucial to the country’s future. We need a concerted effort and sustained cooperation to achieve this important goal.”
