CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — Department of Health (DOH) and National Nutrition Council (NNC) led the commissioning of the Central Luzon Regional Nutrition Shepherding Team (RNST).
Initially composed of 24 members, RNST primarily aims to provide technical assistance to local government units (LGUs) in order to mobilize them towards effective nutrition program management.
NNC Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ana Maria Rosaldo said the Regional Nutrition Committee approved through Resolution No. 1, Series of 2022 the adoption of the Implementing Guidelines on Nutrition Shepherding Project for Effective Nutrition Program Management in the region.
The core team will shepherd priority LGUs on effective nutrition program management focusing on nutrition policies, nutrition planning and budgeting, and local nutrition structures and human resource.
“We have been extending assistance to our LGUs for a long time especially when we are conducting the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI). However, this is not structured. It is only in an on-call basis and based only on what we saw as a result of the MELLPI. With this RNST, our technical assistance is now more structured so we can focus on the LGUs until they become self-propelling, their local nutrition committees are functional, and they can also shepherd other LGUs. They can also adopt the strategies used by the RNST in their component cities and municipalities,” Rosaldo said.
As part of the their duties, RNST members will review the nutrition situation of priority LGUs and determine gaps in nutrition program implementation and management; as well as assist in identifying solutions to address identified gaps.
The team members are also expected to share their knowledge, skills, experiences, and proven strategies that may contribute to finding solutions to the identified implementation gaps as applicable and suitable to the priority LGUs.
“Part also of the tasks of the shepherding team is to advocate for the integration of nutrition in local policies, local development plans and budget; and to monitor the progress of implementing the action points or re-entry plan of the priority LGUs and provide supportive supervision,” Rosaldo said.
Paolo Israel Franco of Department of the Interior and Local Government, who is also the Chairperson of the RNST, said a project such as this is not new to the members, but is not an easy task.
“We need the support of our principals and peers; as well as the collaboration among members of the Central Luzon RNC and cooperation of the members of the Provincial Nutrition Committees of the two LGUs that we will initially mentor—the Provinces of Aurora and Zambales,” he said.
Franco added that the commissioning is but fitting as it demonstrates solidarity of actions toward building a resilient and well-nourished constituents of Central Luzon towards the achievement of the goals of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition and Ambisyon 2040.
