Iloilo’s inaugural congress to elevate nutrition goals

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Local leaders and health advocates from over 1,700 barangays in the province of Iloilo are poised to gather at the inaugural Punong Barangay Nutrition Congress on April 10 to 11 at the Punta Villa Resort in Iloilo City.

The congress will center around discussions on the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) for 2023–2028, launched by the National Nutrition Council (NNC), an agency under the Department of Health, in September last year.

“In November last year, we launched the provincial PPAN. The provincial nutrition committee and provincial nutrition technical working group are eager to advance the goals of the new PPAN so that our local government can incorporate it into their programs,” said Dr. Wendel Tupas Marcelo of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).

The inaugural congress is organized by the IPHO Nutrition Service in collaboration with the Iloilo Provincial Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholars.

Marcelo emphasized that the local government, particularly at the barangay level, plays a significant role in addressing nutrition issues in the country.

According to the IPHO official, the congress will convene representatives from 1,721 barangays in the province of Iloilo.

“We will introduce the PPAN 202-2028 and have a comprehensive discussion of it to underscore the role our village officials play in combating malnutrition and other nutrition-related concerns,” he added.

Marcelo further stressed that through the congress, participants are expected to take the lead in implementing action plans aimed at improving the nutrition status in their respective barangays.

Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang, executive secretary of the NNC, will serve as the keynote speaker of the event.

The new PPAN outlines directions for food and nutrition policies and strategies intended for various stakeholders and duty-bearers from the government, NGOs, development partners, academia, the private sector, and local government units.

It primarily focuses on addressing all forms of malnutrition with particular attention to stunting and wasting, overweight and obesity, poor infant and young child feeding practices, and micronutrient deficiencies.