BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The Regional Nutrition Committee - Cordillera approved a resolution seeking to  reorganizea   regional nutrition core team  and  adopting Nutrition Shepherding Project  to  scale  up nutrition program implementation and management  of local government units.

RNC Resolution No. 1, series of 2022 approved during the Joint Regional Nutrition Committee, Regional Technical Assistance on Nutrition, and Regional Bantay Asin Task Force virtual meeting on May 18 seeks to reorganize the LGU Mobilization Regional Nutrition Core Team to Cordillera Regional Nutrition Shepherding Team (RNST) by expanding its membership to include local government units that are high performing and nutrition awardees to serve as mentors, among others.

     
The resolution also includes the adoption of the Nutrition Shepherding Project implementing guidelines to assist  LGUs  in improving their nutrition program management towards better nutrition situation.

It  further stated that the LGU mobilization strategy can be more effectively implemented with the Nutrition Shepherding Project which adopts a peer learning system to mentor and guide  the LGUs.

 
Bella Basalong of the National Nutrition Council - Cordillera explained that once the RNST is organized, the team will conduct organizational meetings before they implement capability building activities.

 
The RNST will identify priority LGUs for the effective nutrition program. They will review the nutrition situation of priority LGUs, determine the gaps and assist in identifying solutions to identified gaps. They will also share their knowledge, skills, experiences, and proven strategies that may contribute to finding solutions to the identified gaps as applicable and suitable to the priority LGUs.

 
"Kailangang mag-secure tayo ng approval. If walang approval 'yung LGU for us to have this shepherding sa kanila, hindi matutuloy 'yung shepherding kasi there should be an agreement. Kung ayaw nila, we need to proceed to the other LGUs," Basalong explained.

 
"'Pag na-meet na natin 'yung objectives, puwede na nating e-end 'yung shepherding activities pero puwede pa rin tayong mag-coach sa kanila as a post shepherding activity. NNC will still continue to monitor and evaluate itong mga performance of the LGU. It will take time para talagang makikita mo, at least na mag-improve 'yung LGU before na bibitawan natin and we go sa other LGUs," she added. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)