INTRODUCTION: The Barangay Nutrition Action Plan (BNAP) is the local version of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN), the country's directional framework for nutrition improvement. The Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) spearhead the BNAP implementation.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the implementation of BNAP in selected municipalities with high and low prevalence of undernutrition in the province of Ifugao, Bulacan, and Siquijor.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Qualitative method of data collection was employed to assess the BNAP formulation and implementation. A total of 57 BNS consented to participate in a focus group discussion.
RESULTS: This paper presents the BNS perspectives on how BNAP is formulated and implemented in their barangays. While program elements that distinguish the low and high prevalence municipalities were observed, unique program elements, which may explain the program impact in terms of of children's nutritional status, cannot be isolated. BNS' perception of the program inputs that contributed to the positive outcome of the BNAP implementation are as follows: political support, functional barangay nutrition committees, support and guidance from their supervisors, and their high credibility in the community as source of nutrition information that serves as their inspiration and motivation. The perceived program processes that contributed to improving the nutritional status of children in the community, are as follows: the presence of inter-agency collaboration, collective formulation of the BNAP, BNS' resourcefulness and innovativeness in soliciting support from other BNC member agencies.
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Across all municipalities, the BNS shared similar program inputs and processes that they perceived can contribute to improved BNAP implementation. They shared similar recommendations ranging from increased budgetary support for nutrition activities, more incentives for BNS (both monetary and non-monetary), security of tenure as BNS and cooperation from the community beneficiaries in their barangays. In high prevalence municipalities, BNS hope that the NNC will take notice of their problems particularly those that relate to BNAP implementation. Majority hopes that their appointment be apolitical to ensure their security of tenure. Some proposed that their Barangay Chairs be oriented on BNAP, BNC, BNS and their important roles in BNAP implementation. Recommendations to improve BNAP implementation included: political support to ensure funding of BNAP, functional BNC, continuous guidance from their supervisors, continuous BNS capacity building to enhance their program management skills and to enable them to effectively promote inter-agency collaboration and sustained advocacy at the national level for the passage of the Magna Carta for BNS that will increase their allowance and provide them with opportunities to upgrade technical capability to efficiently plan and manage local nutrition programs. 

Human ; Breast Feeding ; Capacity Building ; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Cities ; Employment ; Focus Groups ; Malnutrition ; Motivation ; Nutritional Status ; Philippines ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the implementation of BNAP in selected barangays in the chosen municipalities in Ifugao, Bulacan and Siquijor. It hopes to a) identify nutrition strategies that worked and did not work based on the perception of the nutrition program beneficiaries and b) identify factors that may have contributed to the accomplishment and non-accomplishment of nutrition program objectives.
METHODS: One hundred thirty seven (137) community partners (i.e.mothers with children less than 5 years old) consented to be the respondents in a focus group discussion. The FGD Guide was used to  elicit: a) awareness of barangay nutrition activities focused on their experiences during participation, strong and weak points on how the activities are conducted, b) perception of nutrition activities, perceived benefits derived from participating in nutrition activities and extent of involvement, and c) suggestions to improve and sustain the implementation of barangay nutrition program and their committed role to improve its implementation. Appreciative inquiry approach was used to elicit respondents' satisfaction on the effect of nutrition program on children's health.
RESULTS: In general, the respondents across all study barangays, regardless of the prevalence of undernutrition, are aware of the nutrition activities being implemented in their respective barangays and claimed that they have participated in various nutrition interventions implemented by the barangay nutrition scholars (BNS). Some of the reported and observed "positive" effects of nutrition activities in the study barangays  include: children's weight improved, learned to eat vegetables and appetite improved-no longer a picky eater, and mothers learned more nutritious recipes to serve their family. Some respondents however, think otherwise, because their children are still underweight, became more sickly after receiving vaccination and have not observed any improvement in the nutritional status of the children in their barangay.
CONCLUSION: Variations in the BNAP implementation were observed in this study. The nutrition program components that distinguish the low and high prevalence municipalities were evident based on the respondents' reported activities. The variety of nutrition activities were dependent on the adequacy of logistical support and commitment of the BNS in pursuing what is indicated in the BNAP as crucial to improve nutrition program management. However, unique program elements as experienced by some coming from low or high prevalence barangays cannot be used to explain the effect of the program in terms of nutritional status of the preschool children  as reflected in the annual OPT and hence cannot be isolated.  The inputs (i.e. barangay logistical support) and processes (i.e. nutrition activities) considered critical in program management are similarly found in both low and high prevalence provinces and municipalities.  Across all study areas, respondents find the nutrition advice given by the BNS helpful in the care of their children. It can be concluded that the planned nutrition activities in the BNAP anchored on PPAN are known and participated in by the respondents. The nutrition activities were aligned and consistent with what is reflected in the BNAP, are aligned with the MNAP and to some extent to PPAN.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Child ; Thinness ; Nutritional Status ; Mothers ; Vegetables ; Appetite ; Body Weight ; Awareness ; Vaccination ; Malnutrition

Background: Due to the devolved nature of Philippine local governance, disaster management systems such as relief work and food aid pipelines, have been managed by local government units during natural disasters. Objectives: This study assessed the nutrient adequacy of food aid packs provided during natural disasters in the province of Albay. Specific objectives included assessment of the types of food and food sources, as well as the practices in the food aid pipeline, and assessment of the nutritional quality of food aid packs through comparison with the recommended energy/nutrient intake (REI/RNI) for Filipinos Methods: Key informant interviews were conducted to gather information on food sources and pipelines. Information on the quantities of food components in food aid packs distributed was also collected, and the free iFRNI software used to derive nutrient content. These quantities compared with the REI/RNI for the general population. Descriptive statistics on Microsoft Excel were used to calculate the mean, median and mode for macronutrients as well as Vitamin A and iron to determine the overall intake of individuals relying on these foods. Ethical clearance was secured from the University of the Philippines REB. Results: Analysis of the food components showed that the food aid packs were insufficient to meet the REI/RNI for the general population, particularly for food packs distributed on the barangay and city/municipal levels. Food was sourced from local suppliers as an emergency purchase during the forecast of a disaster, in place of the prescribed practice of stockpiling. Procured food would then be repacked and distributed on the provincial, city/municipal and barangay levels in a staggered schedule depending upon the length of the disaster or evacuation. Conclusion The food packs distributed by the barangay and city/municipal sub-units of the provincial government of Albay are insufficient to meet the daily caloric and micronutrient needs of a general population purely reliant on food aid after a natural disaster.
Natural Disasters Diet ; Vegetarian

Background: Access to nutritious food among the nutritionally at risk preschool children remains a challenge even in urban households in the Philippines. Objectives: This study determined if the daily consumption of rice-soy meals for 120 days improved the anthropometric status of preschool children enrolled in selected child development centers in low-income barangay in Taguig City. Specifically, it determined if the proportion of underweight preschool children decreased at endline and if there was an increase in the weight of preschool children at endline. Methodology: The study used the before and after study design. The Dietary Supplementation Program was implemented by the LGU’s day care teachers. An NGO supplied the rice-soy meal packs. The children were fed with different variants of rice-soy meal pack containing 23 essential micronutrients. Anthropometric measurements were taken before and after 120 days. Data were subjected to Mc Nemar’s test to determine changes in the children’s nutritional status. Results: A total of 538 children were enrolled in the DSP. Results of Mc Nemar's test showed that there was a significant improvement in the nutritional status (weight-for-age) of underweight preschool children (p=0.0000001) while the paired t-test showed that the increase in the weight of preschool children after the 120 day-dietary supplementation program was extremely statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion The daily feeding improved the weight of the undernourished children but overweight children maintained their overweight status at endline. The DSP Guidelines should include feeding mechanism for overweight children. The DSP complementary components should also be assessed in improving household food security.
Anthropometry

This article describes the partnership between the College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila and the province of Laguna in the context of implementation of the field practice course. This partnership paved the way for the development and implementation of projects in seven field practice sites. Projects concentrated mainly on improving quality of data and health information system, development of educational materials, and addressing health problems such as tuberculosis, hypertension and rabies. After the implementation of the various activities, there is a need for both parties (the College of Public Health and the Provincial Health Office of Laguna) to monitor and evaluate if projects have been sustained. Moreover, successful projects must also be fully documented which can serve as models for other areas in the province of Laguna.

Human ; Rabies ; Health Information Systems ; Public Health ; Tuberculosis ; Quality Improvement ; Universities ; Teaching Materials ; Hypertension