The National Nutrition Council-MiMaRoPa Region conducted a consultative workshop and training on Local Nutrition Early Warning System for Food and Nutrition Security (LNEWS-FNS) for the municipality of Narra, Palawan on November 19-21, 2019 at Centerpoint, Brgy. Poblacion, Narra, Palawan. The Municipal of Narra, Palawan was chosen to have a LNEWS-FNS program because of: (1) Presence of trained manpower already collecting relevant data that can provide a good foundation for a workable LNEWS; (2) the awareness of local officials about the vulnerability of the municipality and their interest to mitigate food insecurity among affected population; (3) Potential for successful implementation and use of EWS in local nutrition program management in the local government unit (LGU); and accessibility of the area.
PNC Francis Erik P. Bacena with NO I Ace Van Earl T. Patriarca, gave a consultative workshop to the LGU officials of Narra, Palawan. About 15 participants attended the workshop that consists of officers and staff in nutrition office, local disaster risk reduction and management officer (LDRRMO), planning officer, agriculture and municipal health officer (MHO) and it was held at Centerpoint, Brgy. Poblacion, Narra, Palawan. PNC Bacena discussed the objectives of LNEWS and causes of food and nutrition insecurity. PNC Bacena together with the help of the LGU officials, determined the sentinel barangays where household level monitoring of hunger and food insecurity will be done.
On November 20-21, 2019, the training of LNEWS-FNS was conducted at the municipal level for LNEWS-FNS municipal team which comprise of 10 members from MHO, Nutrition office, LDRRMO and Agriculture office. Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Barangay Health Workers and Midwives of five chosen sentinel barangays namely Aramaywan, Dumagueña, Panacan, Poblacion and Princesa Urduja were the participants for the household data collectors training. For core group, PNC Bacena gave a discussion on developing a plan to collect municipal level data for LNEWS; how to analyze and interpret primary collected data and scoring system; and introducing the software tools for LNEWS.
The data collectors, which comprise of BNSs and BHWs, they were taught on how to collect data using the survey questionnaire for LNEWS-FNS and the criteria on household that they should interview. They were given an opportunity to an actual collection of data using the survey questionnaire.
A work plan for LNEWS-FNS has been prepared and signed by the members of the municipal team. To date, the Executive Order of the LNEWS-FNS was signed while the Memorandum of Agreement was submitted to the Office of the Mayor for further processing. (AVETP)
