Nutrition devolution to create opportunities, strengthen local nutrition programs in C.Visayas

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The National Nutrition Council (NNC-7) here through its regional director Parolita Mission believes that the full devolution of the nutrition programs and functions to local government units starting next year creates opportunities and strengthens LGU nutrition programs in Central Visayas.

Mission said that the Supreme Court Ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia Petition that leads to the signing of the executive order (EO) 138 on June 1 by President Duterte encourages LGUs to primarily and ultimately be responsible in the implementation and delivery of devolved functions as well as recognizing the crucial role of LGUs to attain the overall goal to end malnutrition.

It is important for LGUs in the region to invest more on nutrition particularly on the establishment of nutrition offices at the provincial, city and municipal levels with staff complement to make sure that there is a unit that oversees and manages the implementation of LGU nutrition programs, Mission said.

 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the National Nutrition Council (NNC) conducted a dialogue cum webinar with local chief executives (LCEs) on July 30 entitled “Dialogue with Local Chief Executives: Enabling Nutrition Devolution” that was a sequel to the Roundtable Experience on Nutrition: Ending the Malnutrition War on May 2018 in Manila Hotel.

DILG secretary Eduardo Ano said that with the onset of full devolution, pursuant to EO 138 and the SC ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia petition, LGUs can go beyond service delivery and assume the great responsibility of securing the nutrition of the people.

Año said that with the increase of shares LGUs will receive from national taxes starting fiscal year 2022, LGUs will have more access to funding basic services, including programs for health and nutrition.

He said that the dialogue enables the national and local governments to strengthen collaboration for the sustainability of nutrition initiatives as the country transitions to full devolution next year and the new normal.

“The nutritional welfare of our people, whether infants, children, adolescents, or adults will only be improved once our LGUs develop their capacity to bring together various stakeholders and come up with collectively agreeable solutions,” Ano added.

Ano also urged LCEs to update their nutrition action plans and to implement their respective Local Nutrition Action programs and packages and to organize or strengthen their respective Local Nutrition Action Offices.

 

  

Meanwhile, NNC Assistant Secretary and Executive Director Azucena Dayanghirang said that the cost of malnutrition is very high.  “If we continue to implement the same programs and at the same level of investments for malnutrition, we will lose this battle,” she said.

Dayanghirang is hopeful tough that the commitments made by the Leagues in the event will create more #NutritionChampions to implement and sustain the advocacy. (Photos: NNC)