Press Release | 12 July 2024

The Department of Health (DOH), represented by OIC-Usec Gloria J. Balboa, through its Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) National Project Management Office (NPMO), recognized 99 Local Chief Executives (LCEs) from Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas for achieving 100% of the Performance-Based Grants (PBG) Tranche 1 amounting to Php 217,591,959.08 in the first leg of the PMNP Mayor’s Forum today in Tacloban City.

The PMNP is a project co-led by the DOH and the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) with support from the World Bank that adopts a bold, multi-sectoral approach to deliver a coordinated package of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions in the First 1,000 Days households.

Through the PMNP Mayor’s Forum on Nutrition Governance, LCEs were able to engage with their communities and form strategies for effective nutrition governance, interventions, and outcomes specific to the resources and needs of their communities.

The PMNP Mayor’s Forum was also attended by the Governor of the Provincial Government of Leyte, Hon. Carlos Jericho “Icot” L. Petilla, Assistant Secretary and Executive Director of the National Nutrition Council, Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang, other DOH officials, and Municipal Mayors from participating regions.

The PBG mechanism is a crucial support system provided by the PMNP to Local Government Units (LGU) to enable them to finance and implement interventions tailored to address the health and nutrition needs within their municipalities. In the first quarter of 2024, both internal and external verifications were conducted to assess the performance of the LGUs. As a result, all 235 municipalities are eligible to access the PBG Tranche 1, amounting to Php 560,423,196.66. Executive Director Azucena Dayanghirang also led the Renewal of Commitment of the 235 LCEs to the PMNP Implementation.

“As local chief executives and representatives, you are in the best position to effect change, and influence better health and nutrition practices. The radical change in nutrition leadership and governance starts with us. Let us envision our municipalities with significantly reduced malnutrition rates, raising children with great cognitive abilities and excellent school performance, striving to be productive citizens towards Bagong Pilipinas, kung saan Bawat Buhay Mahalaga,” said Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary of Health Gloria J. Balboa on behalf of Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa.

The Mayor’s Forum will resume on July 23 and 26, 2024 for the Luzon and Mindanao leg, in Quezon City and Davao City where 99 and 37 LCEs will be recognized, respectively. These municipalities will receive Php 251,030,688.55 and Php 239,339,313.07 in funding.