19.2 Nutrition Agencies, Networking, Community Linkages, Teamwork, and Nutrition Legislation
Key Takeaways
The National Nutrition Council is the highest policy-making and coordinating body on nutrition, while member agencies such as DOH, DA, DSWD, and DepEd implement programs.
The DOST Food and Nutrition Research Institute conducts the national nutrition surveys, develops the PDRI and food composition tables, and creates food technologies.
Convergence means delivering several agencies' services to the same priority households and areas so their effects reinforce each other.
Tuckman's stages of team development are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
Key nutrition laws include PD 491 (1974), EO 51 (1986), RA 8172 (1995), RA 8976 (2000), RA 10028 (2010), RA 11037 (2018), and RA 11148 (2018).
Nutrition networking carries 12% of the Community and Public Health Nutrition subject. Examinees must relate agency programs, explain services for nutrition improvement, appraise programs for specific groups, coordinate with agencies and community leaders, relate past and present legislation, and illustrate teamwork. The structure of the National Nutrition Council and the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition is covered in its own section.
Government Agencies and Their Nutrition Roles
| Agency | Main nutrition-related roles |
|---|---|
| National Nutrition Council (NNC) | Policy-making and coordinating body; PPAN; monitoring local nutrition programs; Nutrition Month |
| Department of Health (DOH) | Micronutrient supplementation, IYCF, maternal and child health, management of acute malnutrition, NCD prevention, food safety regulation through the FDA |
| DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) | National nutrition surveys, PDRI, food composition tables, nutrition guidelines, food technologies such as e-Nutribun and complementary food blends |
| Department of Agriculture (DA) | Food production, home and community gardens, biofortified crops, fisheries |
| Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) | Supplementary feeding in child development centers, 4Ps, Walang Gutom Program, disaster relief |
| Department of Education (DepEd) | School-Based Feeding Program, Gulayan sa Paaralan, school health and nutrition education, weekly iron-folic acid for female learners |
| Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) | Oversight of local governments, including local nutrition committees and governance assessments |
| Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) | Support for fortification and salt iodization industries; consumer protection |
| Department of Science and Technology (DOST) | Technology transfer for fortification and food processing |
| Local government units | Deliver devolved services; fund local nutrition action plans; employ nutrition action officers and BNS |
International Partners and NGOs
- WHO: health and nutrition guidelines, such as growth standards and supplementation recommendations.
- UNICEF: child nutrition, IYCF, micronutrients, emergency nutrition, and RUTF supply.
- FAO: food security, agriculture, dietary guidelines, food composition.
- WFP: food assistance, emergency logistics, and support for fortified rice.
- World Bank and development partners: financing for large nutrition projects.
- Non-government organizations: professional associations, academic institutions, foundations, and faith-based and community groups that deliver services, train workers, and advocate for policies.
- Private sector: fortification, workplace programs, and corporate social responsibility projects, within the limits set by the Milk Code.
Networking, Convergence, and Community Linkages
Levels of working together:
| Level | Description |
|---|---|
| Networking | Exchanging information for mutual benefit |
| Coordination | Adjusting activities to avoid duplication and gaps |
| Cooperation | Sharing resources for each partner's goals |
| Collaboration | Jointly planning and implementing toward a shared goal |
| Convergence | Focusing several agencies' services on the same priority households and areas |
Linking with community leaders:
- Courtesy call and presentation of data to the barangay captain and council.
- Involve the barangay nutrition committee, health workers, teachers, parents' groups, and religious leaders.
- Identify natural leaders and form a core group.
- Conduct participatory problem analysis and planning.
- Mobilize community resources (land for gardens, volunteers, local funds).
- Recognize contributions and share results.
Community organizing steps: integration (entering and living with the community), social investigation, identifying leaders, core group formation, organizing and mobilization, action, and evaluation and reflection.
Advocacy aims to win support from decision makers. Steps: define the issue with data, identify the decision makers and influencers, develop a clear message and specific request (such as a budget line for supplementary feeding), choose channels (briefings, policy notes, media), and follow up.
Working as a Team
Tuckman's stages of team development:
| Stage | What happens | Leader's role |
|---|---|---|
| Forming | Members get acquainted; roles unclear | Set direction and orient members |
| Storming | Conflicts over roles and methods | Manage conflict; clarify roles |
| Norming | Agreement on rules and ways of working | Encourage participation |
| Performing | Efficient work toward goals | Delegate and support |
| Adjourning | Task completed; team disbands | Recognize achievements; document lessons |
Features of effective teams: shared goals, clear roles, open communication, mutual respect, shared decision-making, and accountability.
Past and Present Nutrition Legislation
| Year | Law | Key content |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | PD 491, Nutrition Act of the Philippines | Created the NNC; declared July as Nutrition Month |
| 1978 | PD 1569 | Barangay Nutrition Scholar in every barangay |
| 1986 | EO 51, Milk Code | Regulates marketing of breastmilk substitutes |
| 1987 | EO 234 | Reorganized the NNC |
| 1991 | RA 7160, Local Government Code | Devolved health and nutrition services to LGUs |
| 1992 | RA 7600, Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act | Rooming-in and breastfeeding in health facilities |
| 1995 | RA 8172, ASIN Law | Salt iodization nationwide |
| 2000 | RA 8976, Food Fortification Act | Mandatory and voluntary fortification |
| 2004 | RA 9288, Newborn Screening Act | Newborn screening program |
| 2005 | EO 472 | Transferred the NNC to the DOH |
| 2009 | RA 9711, FDA Act | Renamed BFAD as the Food and Drug Administration and strengthened it |
| 2010 | RA 10028, Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act | Lactation stations and breaks |
| 2013 | RA 10611, Food Safety Act | National food safety regulatory system |
| 2016 | RA 10862, Nutrition and Dietetics Law | Regulates the profession |
| 2018 | RA 11037, Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act | National feeding program for undernourished children |
| 2018 | RA 11148, Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act | First 1,000 days program |
| 2019 | RA 11223, Universal Health Care Act; RA 11310, 4Ps Act | Health coverage; conditional cash transfers |
| 2024 | RA 11985, Philippine Salt Industry Development Act | Made iodization of artisanal salt optional |
Which agency conducts the National Nutrition Surveys and develops the Philippine Dietary Reference Intakes?
National Nutrition Council
Department of Health
DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute
Philippine Statistics Authority and its regional offices
A municipal team has just been formed, and members are arguing about who should lead the feeding program and how to divide tasks. Which stage of team development is this?
Forming
Norming
Performing
Storming
Which law created the National Nutrition Council and declared July as Nutrition Month?
Presidential Decree 491 (1974)
Executive Order 234 (1987)
Republic Act 8976 (2000)
Presidential Decree 1569 (1978)
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.