Recognizing the need for a more consultative process of implementing government programs, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH) held a Mayor’s Forum with local chief executives and other local officials to enhance the implementation of the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) on March 28, 2023 in Manila.

The PMNP is a holistic project that aims to harmonize the delivery of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions to reduce stunting in targeted localities around the country.

The DSWD will serve as one of the co-implementers of the PMNP together with the DOH.

In his message, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured the local chief executives of a stronger partnership with the Department.

“We want to make sure that your voices are heard. We want to make sure that this is collaborative and consultative. Ito ho yung magiging driving principle ng DSWD sa mga susunod na panahon sa tuwing maglalabas po kami ng mga programa” (This will be the driving principle of the DSWD in the future whenever we release programs), Secretary Gatchalian said.

The Secretary also mentioned the need to create a holistic plan to combat stunting in the country.

“There are things that we can do that are a stimulus to fighting stunting. For instance, day care centers, WASH facilities, improvement of food security facilities, yung mga bagay na ito noon tinitignan natin sila not as health interventions but stand-alone interventions. But now, ang kakaiba rito, itatali ho natin sila lahat into a holistic program that both looks into nutrition-specific and the nutrition-sensitive angles of it. Naniniwala tayo na kapag pinagsabay-sabay natin itong mga solusyon na ito, sa madaling panahon, makikita natin na bababa at bababa yung numero ng stunting sa ating bansa” (There are things that we can do that are a stimulus to fight stunting. For instance, day care centers, WASH facilities, improvement of food security facilities. We used to look at these things not as health interventions, but stand-alone interventions. But now, the strange thing here is that we will tie them all into a holistic program that both looks into nutrition-specific and the nutrition-sensitive angles of it. We believe that when we combine these solutions, soon, we will see that the number of stunting in our country will be decreasing),” added Secretary Gatchalian.

As co-implementer of the program, the DSWD will hold community-based nutrition service delivery and multi-sectoral nutrition convergence through the Kapit-Bisig Laban Sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program.

Kalahi-CIDSS utilizes the community-driven development (CDD) approach which empowers community members to actively participate in identifying and prioritizing their locality’s problems. The program also enables the locals to design, implement, and manage solutions to their priority problems, including solutions to actively address health concerns such as stunting. ###