Legazpi City, Albay – Leaders and stakeholders across the Bicol Region gathered on 5 August 2025 at Santiago’s Hall, La Edley, Washington Drive, Legazpi City, for the Bicol Regional Plan of Action for Nutrition (RPAN) Dissemination Forum, united under one call: to feed the mind with accurate, timely, and actionable data on the nutrition status of children.
Organized by the National Nutrition Council Region V in partnership with the Regional Nutrition Committee, the forum convened over 40 participants from national government agencies, local government units, civil society, academe, and development partners. The updated Bicol RPAN 2023–2028 was presented as the region’s roadmap to address hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028 and global Sustainable Development Goals.
Representatives from the DILG, DepEd, and Provincial Health Offices provided data-rich insights on child nutrition in the region, underscoring the urgent need for evidence-based policy and program decisions. These presentations became the foundation for collaborative planning, where each participant was reminded that accurate data is not just information — it is a tool to save lives and shape a healthier future for Bicolano children.
In her opening remarks, NNC V OIC Emerenciana Francia emphasized: “We are now in the crucial phase of implementation. This is where your role as agencies, LGUs, and partners becomes vital. Your commitment will determine the success of our nutrition programs.”
DOH Bicol Center for Health Development OIC Regional Director Rosa Maria B. Rempillo, in a video message, added: “Nutrition is not just a health concern – it is a development imperative. Through this plan, we are taking a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to address the root causes of malnutrition.”
NO III Marilyn Valeza discussed how the RPAN directly responds to the region’s realities — poverty, climate vulnerability, and limited health access — with targeted strategies for children and vulnerable populations.
Key RPAN 2023–2028 priorities include:
- Strengthening nutrition governance at all levels
- Building resilient food systems for safe, nutritious, and affordable diets
- Advancing maternal, infant, and young child feeding practices
- Establishing strong data systems and accountability mechanisms
Throughout the discussions, participants were reminded of the Dios Mabalos Po Foundation Inc. creed — “Serve with compassion, act with integrity, and work together for the welfare of the most vulnerable” — as a moral compass for transforming data into action and ensuring that every child in Bicol grows healthy, nourished, and full of potential.
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