NNC 10 launches the 50th Nutrition Month focused on PPAN 2023-2028

The National Nutrition Council Region 10 launches the 50^th Nutrition Month, in collaboration with the City Nutrition Committee of El Salvador City. The highlights of the launch were the unveiling of nutrition month theme and nutrition motorcade which was participated by the members of the City Nutrition Committee (CNC), Barangay Nutrition Committees (BNC) and Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC), Scaling Up Nutrition Movement (SUN) and media.  There was a short program wherein Ms. Maria Cynthia B. Vengco, the OIC-Nutrition Program Coordinator of NNC X presented the key messages of nutrition month and targets of Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028. 

This year marks the 50^th Nutrition Month which was observed since 1974 by virtue of Presidential Decree 491 or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines.  In this important milestone of the campaign, this year’s theme differs from all the previous themes as it focuses on the national nutrition plan as the framework for nutrition action by stakeholders. The selection of the theme is in response to the finding that the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) has low awareness especially at the barangay level.  

The PPAN 2023-2028 is an ambitious plan as it targets substantive improvements in the so-called triple burden of malnutrition which is consistent with the UN Sustainable Development Goals particularly in ending hunger and eliminating all forms of malnutrition. By calling for collective action in implementing the PPAN, all forms of malnutrition are targeted with the end goal of ensuring nutrition security for all Filipinos.

The PPAN 2023-2028 aims to improve nutrition across all the life stages through strategies such as improving consumption of healthier diets, adoption of positive nutrition practices and increased access to quality nutrition services and enabling mechanisms. Interventions include nutrition specific services to address the direct causes of malnutrition and nutrition-sensitive interventions to address underlying causes of malnutrition such as food insecurity and poverty. 

Nutrition Month aims to increase awareness and generate participation and commitments for increased support for the PPAN among stakeholders from government, local government units, non-government organizations, business, civil society, and communities. 

With the announcement of Nutrition Month theme, the NNC calls on all stakeholders to embrace the theme of “Sa PPAN: Sama-sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” and actively participate in Nutrition Month come July. 

	2024 Nutrition Month Motorcade participated by City Nutrition Committee, Regional Nutrition Committee, and Barangay Nutrition Committee.
	El Salvador City Mayor, Hon. Edgar S. Lignes shared the initiatives of the LGU to support nutrition programs.
	The OIC-Nutrition Program Coordinator of the National Nutrition Council X, Ms. Maria Cynthia B. Vengco, presented the key messages of the 50th Nutrition Month and targets of Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028.