Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian meets with Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa and World Bank Division Director for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei Zafer Mustafaolu for the expansion of the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City on Thursday (June 5).

A total of 633 target municipalities nationwide, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have been identified for the program expansion.

The PMNP is a holistic project of the Philippine government that aims to harmonize the delivery of multi-sectoral interventions to reduce stunting of children in targeted localities around the country.

The project has three components: 1) strengthened delivery of nutrition through primary health care; 2) improved community-based multisectoral nutrition service delivery; and 3) enhanced sustainable nutrition financing and governance system.

As the lead of Component 2, the DSWD’s proposal is to widen the community sub-projects for nutrition sensitive interventions under the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS).

Secretary Gatchalian was joined in the meeting by Undersecretary Monina Josefina Romualdez of the Operations Group; Asst. Secretary for Policy Juan Carlo Marquez; KALAHI-CIDSS National Program Manager Bernadette Mapue-Joaquin; and Director Edmon Monteverde of the Protective Service Bureau.

National Nutrition Council (NNC) Assistant Secretary Azucena Dayanghirang also attended the meeting along with other representatives from DOH, World Bank, and NNC. (YADP)