BAGUIO CITY(PIA)-- The Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR) expressed its commitment to support the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028, the country’s comprehensive blueprint designed to guide government agencies, non-government organizations, academe, and the private sector in their coordinated efforts to reduce all forms of malnutrition.
Apayao Governor and RDC-CAR Chairperson Elias Bulut Jr. articulated this in his message delivered by Ifugao Governor Jerry Dalipog during the Luzon launch of the PPAN 2023-2028 last September 20, 2023 at the Manila Hotel.
“With pride, I am pleased to inform you that in 2022 the Cordillera had a decreasing prevalence of malnutrition among under five children. This was possible through the region’s initiative and persistence to develop and implement local level nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive enabling interventions that address the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.”
With this, I would like to enjoin all local government units, regional line agencies and development partners to help realize the PPAN’s implementation by using it as a guide in the formulation of policies, programs and projects back in our home provinces and regions, and this way we will not only contribute in the improvement of nutrition across all ages in Luzon, but also in the whole country,” he stated.
Bulut also called on other participants to support the PPAN which is aligned with the nation’s socio-economic agenda and the country’s long-term collective visions embodied in AmBisyon Natin 2040.
“Let us do this by supporting the cascading of the PPAN in our own region. Let us finalize our Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition which is the sub-national counterpart of the PPAN. Let me emphasize the importance of PPAN through this. With this plan of nutrition, let us pursue its implementation, act on the strategies, nurture our communities towards a Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay.”
The PPAN 2023-2028 launching was led by National Nutrition Council Executive Director and Assistant Secretary Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang and Chair of the NNC Governing Board, Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa represented by OIC, Undersecretary of Health and Chief of Staff Dr. Gloria J. Balboa.
Dayanghirang called on the stakeholders to advance PPAN 2023-2028 at the national, regional, and local levels by in at least six ways - supporting the passage of law on strengthening NNC as a commission and establishment of nutrition offices with permanent human resource and budgetary allocation at all levels; high level advocacy and capability building for national government agencies on nutrition sensitive programming; consistent and continuous messaging and a whole-society approach to develop a culture of nutrition-conscious Filipinos; improvement of nutrition sensitivity in agricultural sector thrusts and strategic agenda; social protection for low-income families (expansion of 4Ps program), and Nutritionist-Dietitians to the Barrios + Inter-referral systems (schools, communities, health facilities) for Mental Health and Nutrition.
In the panel discussion that aims to foster dialogue among local government units with good practices in the localization of and investing in nutrition interventions embedded in the PPAN, Tublay, Benguet Mayor Armando Lauro was invited to share his municipality’s efforts and initiatives in achieving the Nutrition Honor Award.
