IN PHOTOS | The Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA7), being the Vice Chairperson of the nutrition committee, joined in the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation Protocol (MELLPI Pro) in the Local Government of Carmen and Dalaguete, Province of Cebu on April 22-24, 2025.
Composing the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) were the National Nutrition Council (NNC), DA7, Philippine Association for Nutrition (PAN)- Cebu Chapter, Cebu Provincial Health Office-Nutrition Services, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
In Carmen, the team visited three barangays of Carmen which were Cogon West, Dawis Sur, and Corte on April 22–23, and proceeded to Dalaguete on April 24 to evaluate the barangays of Mantalongon and Cawayan.
Selected areas were based on the 2024 Operation Timbang Plus (OPT+) results, which highlighted prevalence of malnutrition.
Jolina Daño, Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) member, emphasized the role of agriculture in supporting nutrition-sensitive programs, particularly in ensuring food security. She noted that the presence of agricultural initiatives in each barangay contribute to the sustainability of nutrition programs.
Daño also commended the LGUs of Carmen and Dalaguete for allocating funds in support of both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs. She acknowledged their multi-sectoral approach to nutrition and commended key projects including the BNC vegetable garden project contest, Harden sa barangay, HAPAG, Sugbusog and Sugbobaboyan, and Community Garden in Carmen.
In Dalaguete, notable projects were tanaman sa kausaban or the household sugbusog, where personnel conducted rapid appraisal to vulnerable households before enrolment in mother’s class.
The MELLPI Pro aims to monitor nutrition security at the local level based on LGU accomplishments and nutrition workers performance.
To date, DA7 has conducted and participated in the nutrition evaluation, to include one city, two provinces, and six municipalities across Central Visayas since March 2025.
