Manila City – On 7 February 2020, the Regional Social Development Committee (SDC) held its first meeting in 2020 at City Garden Suites Hotel in Ermita, Manila. One of the main businesses of the meeting was to review of the budget proposal of regional line agencies (RLAs) for FY 2021. The meeting was attended by Honorable Governor and Regional Development Committee (RDC) Chair Jose Riano of Romblon and Honorable Governor Humerlito Dolor of Oriental Mindoro and Regional Directors and representatives of Regional Line Agencies (RLAs), Private Sector Representatives, Provincial Planning and Development Officers (PPDOs) and executive staff of Representatives Hon. Gil Acosta Jr. of 3^rd District of Palawan, Hon. Franz Josef George Alvarez of 1^st District of Palawan and Hon. Paulino Salvador Leachon of 1^st District of Oriental Mindoro.

NPC Ma. Eileen Blanco, Officer-in-Charge of NNC MIMAROPA presented the FY 2021 Budget Proposal of NNC MIMAROPA to the SDC. For Tier 1, or the on-going programs, activities and projects (PAPs) of the agency, a total of 18 PAPs were proposed amounting to Php 3,771,500.00. This includes mobilization of local government units (LGUs) monitoring and evaluation of nutrition programs, coordination meetings of regional policy-making and coordinating bodies, local media promotion, recognition of local nutrition workers and LGUs, and assistance to regional associations. For Tier 2, or the new and expanded PAPs, a total of 4 PAPs were proposed amounting to Php 33,200,600.00. This includes dietary supplementation program for nutritionally-at-risk pregnant and lactating women, Early Childhood Care and Development in the First 1000 Days of Life (ECCD-F1K) Regional Technical Working Group Meetings, ECCD-F1K Regional Technical Assistance and Monitoring and Evaluation activities, and budget for the office transfer of NNC MIMAROPA to Calapan City.

The Php 36,972,100.00 budget proposal of NNC MIMAROPA for FY 2021 was approved by the SDC for endorsement to the RDC. The budget proposal will be subject for approval during the 1^st Full Council Meeting of RDC on 6 March 2020 at Heritage Hotel in Pasay City. – EMArcinue