The National Nutrition Council and the United Nations Childrens Fund, in partnership

with the Global Nutrition Cluster held a training on cluster coordination in the context of
nutrition in disaster risk reduction and management last 3-5 July 2014 at the Bayview
Park Hotel.
The training aimed to provide a clearer and better understanding of the cluster approach
to enable the Philippine Nutrition Cluster to carry out its functions to ensure a
predictable, timely, coordinated and effective nutrition response to disaster-affected
populations.
About 35 participants attended the training, and included all the NNC regional nutrition
program coordinators or their representative; selected staff from the NNC central office,
and selected members of the Philippine Nutrition Cluster, specifically, UNICEF, Action
Contra La Faim (ACF), World Vision representing the Philippine Coalition of Advocates
for Nutrition or PhilCAN, and Save the Children.
The training involved interactive learning sessions on the context of the Philippine
Nutrition Cluster; humanitarian reform and transformative agenda; the cluster approach;
humanitarian programme cycle from assessment to planning to implementation to
monitoring; cluster coordination performance monitoring; and accountability to clients.
Participants had a glimpse of both international and local standards and protocols for a
coordinated nutrition response in emergencies from the speakers of the Global Nutrition
Cluster, Dr. Ayadil Saparbekov, and Dr. Anna Ziolkovska; National Nutrition Council,
Ms. Maria Lourdes A. Vega, and Health Emergency Management Bureau of the
Department of Health, Dr. Ronald P. Law. True to the Welcome and Opening Remarks
of Assistant Secretary of Health Maria-Bernardita T. Flores, discussions provided inputs
for participants to reflect and determine how the nutrition cluster at various levels can
adopt or adapt key processes to further improve and strengthen the performance of the
cluster and in the process prevent a worsening of the nutrition situation.

NNC Executive Director Assistant Secretary of Health Maria-Bernardita T. Flores led the
book launch of NNCs publication to commemorate the 40thbirthday of the organization.
The book entitled NNC 40 Years: Nurturing the Filipino Towards a Stronger Nation
highlights the beginnings of NNC, what it has achieved, the challenges that it has gone
through and recognizes the people who have forged and shaped the NNC to what it is
today. Set against the backdrop of six political administrations of varying priorities and
programs, the book is a testimony of the hard work and dedication of the men and
women behind and in front of the NNC. Its title captures the spirit of the NNC
nurturers of every Filipino to ensure optimal nutrition for them to become productive
citizens.
This book is also NNCs way of recognizing its guiding lights former and present
chairs of the NNC Governing Board, NNC Technical Committee, former Executive
Directors, members of the various committees, task forces, and technical working
groups, the local chief executives and members of local nutrition committees, the
nutrition action officers, district/city nutrition program coordinators, the barangay
nutrition scholars, development partners, international and local non-government
organizations and all its partners in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.
The book launch was held during the 40th anniversary celebration of the NNC on 25
June at the NNC office. The launch was attended by special guest Assistant Secretary
Gerardo V. Bayugo representing the current NNC Governing Board Chair Health
Secretary Enrique T. Ona. About 300 guests and the entire NNC Secretariat attended
the milestone event.

A Nurture Run was recently organized in May at the CCP grounds in Pasay City by
Beauty Brains and Breastfeeding (BBB, Inc) and UNICEF, co-presented by the
Department of Health and the National Nutrition Cluster chaired by the National
Nutrition Council. The objective of the Run was to raise the publics awareness on the
importance of breastfeeding during emergencies including in the work place. More than
1,700 runners from all walks of life the general public, government sector, non-
government organizations and private sector participated in the activity. Former PBA
basketball star, Mr. Vince Hizon was there together with his sports caster and television
host wife Patricia Bermudez-Hizon and kids, Vicente and Paul Andre to support the
historic breastfeeding run.
Patricia related how Vince emotionally affirmed her when she was still exclusively
breastfeeding their two kids. She shared that husbands who show full support to their
partners make breastfeeding a joyful part of parenthood and truly a family affair.
Aside from promoting closer ties between the mother and infant, breastfeeding provides
the right amount of nutrients and significant immunoglobulins which the infant needs for
optimum growth and development. Families can also save as much as P4,000 a month
from freed cost of formula milk, distilled water and fuel. During emergencies, breast
milk assures babies of readily available, nutritionally adequate and clean food.
Truly, breastfeeding anytime anywhere is the Filipino families best bet for nurturing
children.

San Fernando City, La Union -- The National Nutrition Council - LUPangIlocos has
started organizing Nutrition Clusters in the region. During a meeting held on May 8,
2014, NNCs Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ma. Eileen B. Blanco explained to
the members that the Clusters main purpose is to ensure the nutritional well-being of
vulnerable groups such as the infants, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women,
older persons and persons with disabilities during emergencies and disasters. Partner
agencies such as DOH, DSWD, DA, DILG, DOST, OCD, CHED, and DTI, who were
present during the meeting, were also oriented on their respective roles and
responsibilities as members of the Nutrition Cluster.
A training on Nutrition in Emergencies and Infant Feeding in Emergencies will be
conducted for the Regional Nutrition Cluster members by NNC-Region I Office,
sometime in August 2014, as a preparatory activity.
This initiative was conducted in response to the National Nutrition Council Governing
Board Resolution No. 1 s. 2000, adopting the DOH National Policy on Nutrition
Management in Emergencies and Disasters. The policy specifies the guidelines to be
followed in the delivery of nutrition and nutrition related services for the vulnerable
groups during emergencies and disasters. The amendatory DOH Department
Personnel Order 2007-2492 designated NNC as the chair of the Nutrition Cluster within
the Health Emergency Cluster, prompted the series of activities towards the
organization and activation of local nutrition clusters.

For the 2nd time, National Nutrition Councils Radyo Mo sa Nutrisyon was recognized as
the Best Radio Public Service Program during the 22nd Golden Dove Awards of the
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP). The awarding was held on 29 April
2014 at the Star Theater in Pasay City. Ms. Jovita B. Raval, Chief of the Nutrition
Information and Education Division of the NNC received the award in behalf of Assistant
Secretary of Health Maria-Bernardita T. Flores who anchors the program, together with
Mr. Rod Marcelino, co-anchor and Ms. Mackay Quadra, of MQ MediaZone Productions
which assists the NNC in producing the radio program. Radyo Mo sa Nutrisyon won for
its episode Wastong Nutrisyon Para sa Malinaw na Paningin. Its two other episodes
on Prostate Cancer Iwasan and Food Allergy: Alamin ang mga dapat gawin were
also among the finalists. Radyo Mo sa Nutrisyon bested DZRHs Doctors on Call and
ABS-CBN DZMMs Magandang Gabi Dok!.
Radyo Mo sa Nutrisyon is a 30-minute block time nutrition radio program aired over
DZXL 558 kHz AM every Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.. It discusses issues
about nutrition, health and developmental programs and other concerns. NNC invites
qualified resource persons to discuss the technical discussion in the weekly radio
program.
Radyo Mo sa Nutrisyon is currently on production break after concluding its 4th year of
airing. RMN will be back on air in a few weeks to continue promoting good nutrition
among Filipinos.

The NNC Technical Committee approved the theme for this years Nutrition Month
celebration, Kalamidad paghandaan: Gutom at malnutrisyon agapan! on 26 March
2014 during the 2nd NNC TechCom meeting held at the Philippine Statistics Authority in
Makati City. The theme stresses the importance of preparedness and prevention of
hunger and malnutrition to minimize the impact of calamities and disasters. With the
approval of the Nutrition Month theme, stakeholders especially local government units
through the local nutrition committees are encouraged to plan for activities related to
nutrition in emergency preparedness as these committees are also the local nutrition
clusters.
Nutrition Month 2014 aims to: 1) promote interventions to address nutritional needs in
emergencies and disasters including preparedness, response and recovery; 2) mobilize
responders particularly the local nutrition clusters and stakeholders to address gaps in
nutrition in emergencies response from national to barangay levels; and 3) increase
awareness among families and individuals on coping and resiliency strategies to
prevent malnutrition and worsening of nutritional status in times of emergencies and
disasters.
The NNC conducted the Nutrition Month theme writing contest last 6-31 January 2014
which was opened to individual Filipino citizens - students, professionals, nutrition
workers, barangay nutrition scholars, and others aged 12 years old and above. Ms.
Desiree P. Reyes of Los Baos, Laguna submitted the winning theme selected from
among the 304 entries received from all over the country. Ms. Reyes will receive
Php10,000 as cash prize for her winning entry.