With the aim of creating the plan to solve the malnutrition problems in MiMaRoPa, representatives of the Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) convened last 14-16 March 2018 for the Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition (RPAN) 2019-2022 Formulation Workshop for Regions I, II, III, NCR, CAR, IV-A, MiMaRoPa, and V at St. Giles Hotel, Makati City.

The RPAN is a document which will help the full operationalization of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022. It embodies the key commitment of regional agencies most especially the member agencies of the RNC along the PPAN programs and along the share of the malnutrition burden of the country. The RPAN is a plan that commits NNC sector agencies represented at the regional level to action with corresponding resources addressed to the priority nutrition problems in the region. These agencies collectively will contribute to the proportionate share of the malnutrition burden and corresponding targets in the PPAN. The RPAN forms an integral part of the Regional Development Plan. It is also the document that will reflect the contribution of the provincial governments in the regional burden as basis for setting commitment through their respective local nutrition action plans. The process of preparing the RPAN will serve as a platform for further mobilization of sectoral member agencies of the NNC and local governments.

The RPAN Formulation Workshop aimed to:

1. Assess the nutrition situation of the region against the prevailing nutritional problems with specific focus on the First 1000 Days;
2. Identify existing gaps or adequacies of ongoing nutrition actions and interventions;
3. Define the regional outcome targets consistent with those of the PPAN;
4. Identify programs and interventions including program coverage based on the proportionate share of the malnutrition burden and corresponding targets in the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN);
5. Determine assumptions, risks and mitigation strategies to strengthen the feasibility of the RPAN;
6. Determine resource requirements, resource mobilization strategies for the effective implementation of PPAN;
7. Define accountabilities of regional structures and entities responsible for the RPAN implementation;
8. Define the monitoring, reporting and evaluation mechanism for the RPAN

The RPAN Formulation Workshop was attended by representatives from RNC member agencies of MiMaRoPa including the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on Population (POPCOM), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the National Food Authority (NFA) who worked hand-in-hand to produce the first draft of the RPAN 2019-2022 which includes programs, projects and activities aligned with the nutrition-specific and sensitive programs of the PPAN 2017-2022.

The nutritional status of MiMaRoPa was presented by OIC Carina Z. Santiago. According to the results of the 2015 National Nutrition Survey Updating of Nutritional Status of Filipino Children and Other Population Groups conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), MiMaRoPa ranked 1st among all the regions with the highest prevalence of underweight children at 31.8%. In addition, underweight prevalence increased from 27.6% in 2013 to 31.8% in 2015, while stunting prevalence increased from 35.8% in 2013 to 40.9% in 2015. On the other hand, wasting prevalence is consistent at 9.7% in 2013 and 2015. Several immediate and underlying factors were also presented, most notable of which is the high prevalence of at risk pregnant women, poor sanitation practices, low food intake and high food insecurity among households.

The participants were divided per PPAN Program and were asked to enumerate agency programs in line with the PPAN. The summary of programs and projects finalized in the RPAN includes the following:

At the end of the workshop, a draft RPAN was formulated while member agencies were given a task to finalize their inputs especially their targets and budget. Next steps for the RPAN includes further consultation with member agencies, conduct of RNC meeting to discuss the RPAN, and the finalization of the draft. These activities will be conducted from March until June 2018.//jlbv