EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY IN THE PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR, PHILIPPINES
by
Arlene R. Reario
ABSTRACT
Hunger and malnutrition are threats to national security as it seriously affects the group that the state is supposed to protect. With good local governance, the system could be an effective tool to effectively reduce malnutrition and hunger in a community. This study evaluated the implementation of the project “Early Warning System for Food and Nutrition Security (EWS-FNS)” in 6 municipalities of Camarines Sur, specifically in terms of its usefulness as a tool for predicting food and nutrition security.
This qualitative study employed the conduct of perception surveys among various stakeholders from the barangay, municipal and provincial levels supplemented with LGU document analysis and key informant interviews (KII) from experts on community assessment or surveillance. Results of the study showed that in at least 3 of the municipalities, EWS-FNS was functional as indicated by the regular collection, processing and analyses of data considered predictive of food insecurity. Information generated by the EWS- FNS was also reported to the Mayor and members of the municipal development council and used as basis for adopting intervention programs to address problems and issues related to hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity. Interventions such as distribution of seeds and seedlings to improve food availability among food insecure households, conduct of supplemental feeding to malnourished preschool children and provision of livelihood programs for poor households were implemented by local government units. Although resources were provided by the LGUs to sustain the monitoring activity and implement the intervention programs, it has been recommended that the budgetary requirement to sustain the operations of the EWS-FNS be integrated in the regular Annual Investment Plan of the municipality to ensure a regular budget to run the system. A legal document such as Executive Order to legitimize the role of the members of the team was also suggested by staff involved in the activity. It is also essential that members of the EWS FNS team should be highly motivated and have a good working relationship to enable them to discuss and analyze results of regular data monitoring for subsequent reporting to the Chief Executive and the local council. It is also recommended that Interventions to address issues on food insecurity should not be limited to provision of safe and adequate food (e.g. feeding program) but means to permanently acquire this such as employment, skills development and market-matching of skills with job creation should be seriously considered. Families who are most vulnerable such as those whose income are below food threshold and whose children suffer from malnutrition should be the priority for such interventions. Access to sufficient and effective health and nutrition services should be made available in the barangay so as to reduce the effects of malnutrition and sickness. The study recommended that regular meetings at the regional level such as the Project Management Committee should be sustained. Barangay Captains should be given feedback on the results of the EWS FNS so appropriate actions may be done by them. Review of existing software, enhancement of the databases or indicators currently collected on EWS-FNS was suggested to be done including adoption of updated software developed by FAO. At the provincial level, Camarines Sur should be involved in the monitoring of EWS-FNS in its municipalities. They may also expand the coverage of EWS-FNS to more municipalities within the province.
1. Introduction
The Philippines continues to have problems on nutrition, particularly among children 0- 59 months old. Results of the 2015 Updating of Nutrition Status of Selected Population done by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) reveal that 21.5% of 0-5 year old children are underweight while 33.4% are stunted or too short for their age, indicating chronic or long standing malnutrition. Moreover, the
percent of Filipino children 0-5 years old who are “wasted” or too thin for their height is 7.1% in 2015, a significant reduction from to 8.0% in 2013. MIMAROPA, Eastern Visayas and Bicol are the regions most affected by undernutrition with Bicol region ranking fourth among regions with high prevalence of stunting at 40.2% in this age group. Moreover, based on the Operation Timbang Results generated by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in 2015, 11.40% of children 0-71 months are underweight, 23.86 % are stunted and 7.86% are wasted in the Bicol region. Among the provinces in her region, Camarines Sur ranked 3rd on undernutrition and stunting at 28.12% and 12.57%, respectively. Likewise, it has the highest magnitude of affected children, with 75,830 stunted and 33,897 underweight children in 2015.
The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2011-2016 is the country’s response to malnutrition. The mid-term update of PPAN 2011-2016 indicates that “An appropriate nutrition early warning system will be set up at both national and local levels within the plan period. The system is envisioned to generate key and sensitive indicators that could signal an impending worsening of the nutrition situation to allow timely intervention” (NNC, 2014).
In 2009, the Joint Programme on “Ensuring Food Security and Nutrition for children 0- 23 months old”, was implemented by UNICEF, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) with the Early Warning System for Food and Nutrition Security (EWS - FNS) implemented in Ragay, Camarines Sur in 2011 as one of its components. In 2013, this project was expanded to 5 more municipalities in the province of Camarines Sur, particularly in Minalabac, Sipocot, Cabusao, Canaman and Calabanga. This project called for the regular and periodic collection of relevant data such as food production, climate, food prices, nutritional status of children 0-23 months, hunger incidence and diet diversity of households in sentinel barangays to determine status of food supply and food security. The data monitoring system was carried out to warn the municipalities of impending food crisis before it happens or worsens. The information gathered was expected to be utilized for formulating relevant policies and programs to address food and nutrition problems. However, no comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the program, particularly in the five expansion areas has been done so far.
2. Statement of the Problem
The study aims to do an evaluation of the implementation of the project “Early Warning System for Food and Nutrition Security (EWS-FNS)” by the concerned 6 LGUs that have adopted the project. Specifically, the study aims to determine if the EWS-FNS is a useful tool for predicting food and nutrition security in selected municipalities in Camarines Sur. In particular, it will address the following questions:
1. Was the EWS-FNS functional or operational? 2. Were the problems or results identified by the EWS-FNS monitoring used by the local government unit (LGU) to adopt relevant policies or intervention programs? 3. Were resources allocated to sustain the monitoring activity and implement the intervention programs?
3. Objectives of the study
The study aims to: A. Determine factors which influenced the functionality of the early warning system on food and nutrition security in the 6 municipalities in terms of:
1. Regular monitoring or collection and analyses of data; 2. Relevance of data monitored for predicting food in security; 3. Reporting results of the EWS-FNS to local chief executives (LCEs) and local councils; and 4. Decisions taken by the local government to address problems and issues,
identified by the EWS-FNS, related to hunger and malnutrition.
B. Determine the commitment or support provided by the LCEs or municipalities to the EWS-FNS in terms of:
1. Provision of required logistical needs (e.g. office supplies, equipment, transportation allowance to community data collectors) for regular data monitoring; 2. Issuance of a legal instrument (e.g. special order) to make involvement of persons assigned to the EWS-FNS official or a regular part of their jobs; 3. Allocation of resources to implement interventions or action programs recommended by the EWS-FNS Team based on findings.
C. Recommend measures to make the EWS-FNS implementation more sustainable and functional.
4. Selected Review of Related Literature
According to 1996 World Food Summit, food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. (FAO 1996). The absence of any of the dimensions of food security such as physical availability of food, economic and physical access to food, food utilization and stability of the other three dimensions over time, will result to food insecurity. The graphical representation of these dimensions is shown below as indicated in the UN- FAO Training Manual on Early Warning System on Food and Nutrition Security (FAO 2012):
Source: FAO, 2012 Figure 1: Graphical Presentation of Food and Nutrition Security and its Dimensions
Food availability in a local area means that food is physically present because it has been grown, manufactured, imported and/or transported there; it tells whether a wide variety of food is available at farms and in local markets.
Food access is the way different people obtain the available food either through a combination of home production, stocks, purchase, barter, gifts, borrowing or food aid. Food access is ensured when communities and households and all individuals within them have adequate resources, such as money, to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet. Household or individual access to food depends on the income or resources of the household, the prices of food and the distribution within the household.
Food utilization is the way people use the food and is dependent on the quality of the food, its preparation and storage method, nutritional knowledge, as well as on the health status of the individual consuming the food. It is often reduced by endemic disease, poor sanitation, lack of appropriate nutrition knowledge or culturally prescribed taboos that affect access to nutritious food by certain groups or family members according to age or gender.
Stability emphasizes the importance of having to reduce the risk of adverse effects on the other three dimensions: food availability, access to food or food utilization. Certain conditions or situations may cause a change in a community or household’s food security status and lead to a worsening of nutritional status.
Situations that may cause instability are political or security problems, adverse weather conditions or natural calamities (e.g. drought, typhoons, mudslides, earthquakes), or economic factors (e.g. rising food prices, unemployment).
Availability, access, utilization and stability of food are all inter- connected and essential elements of Food Security. A serious problem in one or more of these elements means that food insecurity could happen in a community.
The FAO defines nutrition security as “a situation that exists when secure access to an appropriately nutritious diet is coupled with a sanitary environment, adequate health services and care, in order to ensure a healthy and active life for all household members” (FAO, 2012). Nutrition security considers care, health, and hygiene practices in addition to food security. Nutrition insecurity is sometimes used interchangeably with food insecurity, but in fact the definition is much broader as shown in figure below.
Figure 2. Conceptual Framework of the Nutritional Status at the Household Level
Food security to the area of causes and effects of food availability at household level (= access to food), is illustrated as the small, dotted triangle. Nutrition security refers to the entire relationships, depicted in the larger solid-lined triangle. Above framework likewise suggests another important fact that should be taken into consideration when designing programmes, i.e., the less direct the relationship between a causal factor of malnutrition and the nutritional status, the more time is required to improve the situation.(Klennert, 2005)
The Early Warning System for food and nutrition is essential to ensure that impending food crisis is recognized and addressed at an early time. It is also an important basis for program planners, particularly those at the local level to provide proper allocation of limited available resources for prioritizing interventions that will improve food security and nutrition.
In 2011, FAO initiated a simple and functional system of monitoring indicators related to food and nutrition at the municipal level in Ragay, Camarines Sur. The pilot study is a form of surveillance system that may foretell of an impending food crisis using a set of indicators with primary and secondary information. The changes in the data are monitored and analyzed versus set “trigger levels” and interpreted to determine the food security status of the LGU at the end of each quarter. Reports are able to provide comparative profile of food security at various quarters of the year. The results of this serve as the basis for program planning, allocation of resources and prioritization and timely implementation of interventions. Likewise, appropriate targeting of the beneficiaries by the local government is facilitated by the system.
The final evaluation of MDFG 2030, Ensuring Food Security and Nutrition for Children 0-2 years old in the Philippines indicated that “through the FNS-EWS intervention, the municipality undertook evidence-based decisions by providing food insecure households with supplementary feeding and seeds to supplement their food resources. More specifically, the municipal authorities noted that they had generated information about the cycle of food insecurity and vulnerable groups and they were thus able to target these groups more effectively and at the appropriate time.” The report likewise mentioned “….that combination of the nutrition interventions such as exclusive breastfeeding and [Infant and Young Child Feeding] IYCF, were more effective if complemented with livelihood and poverty reduction interventions.” (Chiwara, Villate (2013 p. 24). The FAO-assisted Early Warning System established in Ragay and 5 other municipalities in Camarines Sur had the following objectives:
1. Provide information that will contribute to the analysis of causes of food insecurity, undernutrition and associated factors and permit a selection of preventive measures; 2. Facilitate and provide guidance on decision-making by the municipality concerning priorities and the disposal of resources; and 3. Enable predictions to be made on the basis of current trends.
An early warning system should be able to serve as a timely warning or an identification of food insecure and vulnerable areas/households.
The following steps were undertaken towards the implementation of the System:
1. Orientation Meeting 2. Desk Review of available data 3. Conduct of Consultative Workshop to develop a causality framework of food insecurity in the Municipality; select a set of indicators and corresponding relevant data to be monitored; select sentinel sites to represent the municipality; organize the EWS Team and et the schedule of data collection; 4. Training the Local EWS Team and the Household Data Collectors on Data Collection where two different levels of training for the data collection - Municipal and Household levels were held. 5. Implementation of the EWS-FNS
The approach consisted of two different levels of quarterly data collection. Primary data were collected at the household level with the use of a structured questionnaire to assess hunger incidence (using the Household Food Insecurity Assessment Scale or HFIAS) and variety of food intake (using Diet Diversity Score or DDS). Nutrition status (in terms of weight and height) of preschool children (as index population group) was also assessed.
Secondary data were collected at the municipal level and made use of existing data routinely monitored by some LGU staff such as production of major food commodities (an indicator of food availability), rainfall obtained from PAGASA (indicator of threat to stability of food supply), and prices of common foodstuffs consumed by low-income households (an indicator of food accessibility). These data were selected for inclusion in the quarterly data monitoring by the EWS-FNS Team.
The approaches employed in this project is divided into two sections namely, household survey and municipal level data monitoring.
A. The Household Survey (Primary data monitoring).
Since not all barangays could be included for regular monitoring, only 5 to 6 barangays were selected to represent the municipality, and are called sentinel barangays. Based on Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS), at least 5 sentinel areas can provide statistically valid information about the situation in the municipality. The selection of sentinel barangays was based on the following criteria: number of households, number of children 0-24 months old, poverty incidence, malnutrition rate, accessibility of the areas, and likelihood of participation in the survey by the local officials and the households in the Barangays (LGU support). To ensure a good cross-section of livelihoods among the sentinel areas, the type of eco-zones were likewise considered in its selection.
Only a sample size of 19 households per barangay was randomly selected from a pre-determined list of households with children 0-24 months using Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) method. The local EWS Team was taught to use the simple random sampling using the list of children 0-24 months old in the sentinel areas. This list constitutes the sampling frame from which the households to interview are drawn.
Indicators selected for household survey
Three (3) important indicators were selected to monitor the status of household food security in the municipality namely:
1. Experience or incidence of hunger
This indicator is a measure of the availability of or access to food by the households at all times. Patterned after the Household Food Insecurity Assessment Scale (HFIAS) questionnaire, question asked is “Did the household experience hunger in the past 4 weeks?”. The validity of the answer to this question was probed by asking for the coping strategies resorted to by the household to mitigate hunger or to provide food for the family. Mention of any coping strategy was taken to be indicative of the presence of hunger.
2. Dietary Diversity
This indicator was used to measure the access of the households to nutritionally adequate diets or access to adequate food in general. Twelve food groups were included in the measurement which was patterned after the FANTA guidelines. The WHO cut-off point of 4 food groups being consumed was used as basis for analysis for a “diverse” diet. Dietary diversity was determined
through a 24-hour food recall of all foods consumed by the household.
3. Nutritional status of children 0-24 months
The weight-for-age and height-for-age were used to determine the nutritional status of children 0-24 months in the pilot study.
The primary data were collected using a structured household questionnaire. The questionnaire covers the items on hunger and coping strategies, a 24-hour food recall/dietary diversity and anthropometric measurement/nutritional status. The data collection was conducted on a quarterly basis.
B. Secondary Data (Municipal Level)
The other set of data collected are secondary data collected at the Municipal Level. These are existing data which are available and regularly collected, hence can be fed into the EWS-FNS. The data selected were based on the causality framework collectively formulated by the team during the consultative workshop. These are production of rice and fish c/o of local agriculture office, prices of fish (galunggong), cooking oil, refined sugar, brown sugar and eggplant and rainfall from PAGASA website.
The local EWS-FNS Team of the municipality implements and manages the system. Composed mostly of the Unit Heads who are directly involved in the monitoring of relevant data, the team is composed of the following officials:
Unit Head Roles/Responsibilities a. Municipal Planning - serves as the Team Leader/Focal Person of the group and Development - responsible for collating all the data from the other Units; Officer (MPDO) - supervises the encoding and analysis of data collected - facilitates group discussion of results;
b. Municipal Agriculture - responsible for collecting and reporting the quarterly data Officer (MAO) on food production and food prices;
c. Municipal Nutrition - responsible for supervising the data collectors and Action Officer during the household survey (MNAO) - ensures that the data base for children 0-24 months is updated prior to random sampling - responsible for reporting feedback from the field
d. Municipal Health - provides technical support in the analysis of results Officer (MHO)
e. Municipal Social - ensures that those found food insecure and Welfare and malnourished are included in the local government Development Officer programs for priority of interventions (MSWDO)
Data collected and conducted at the household and municipal level are entered and analyzed using the excel-based database software developed by the FAO-EWS Consultants. Once the data are processed and analyzed, the local EWS Team meets and discusses the results of the household data collection as well as the results of the secondary data collection of selected indicators. The team members collectively discuss the possible explanations and interpretations
of the quarterly findings especially the implications of the indicators at warning or critical levels. The team also discusses possible interventions that may be adopted to address the critical situations. The findings are presented to the Mayor and to the Municipal Council including the recommendations for priority interventions and targeting the beneficiaries.
The mechanism for reporting the quarterly results of the EWS-FNS is illustrated below:
Source: FAO (2015)
Figure 3: Mechanism for Reporting Quarterly results of the EWS-FNS
5. Conceptual Framework of the Study
Figure 4. Conceptual Framework of the Study
The above is the framework of the study. Based on this, relevant policies and programs on food and nutrition security are dependent upon the availability of information or data on the food and nutrition situation which serve as basis for policies and decisions. The adoption of appropriate policies is dependent on the political will, commitment and support of the Local Chief Executives as well as of the local councils who create and designate the members of the EWS-FNS Team and provide resources for the implementation of the EWS as well as interventions to address the food and nutrition problems that may be identified as a result of the monitoring. As a result of this, it is envisioned that hunger among affected households and malnutrition among 0-24 months old children in the areas covered may be reduced, if not totally eradicated.
Information generated by the system will depend on regular collection of relevant and valid data and their adequate analysis and interpretation. This information needs to be reported to the local chief executive and members of the municipal council for appropriate action. Political will is manifested through issuance of special order and legitimization of the early warning system team including allocation of needed funds for the conduct of periodic data monitoring as well as for the implementation of interventions to alleviate impending food crises and malnutrition. Resources can be in the form of money, material and equipment, manpower, facilities and time. Organizational structure refers to the creation of a team composed of members who have the necessary technical capability and commitment to conduct the periodic collection of data under the leadership of one of the local officials.
Hunger will be assessed using a questionnaire (Household Food Insecurity Assessment Scale) on incidence of food shortage experienced by the household at a particular point in time, and variety of household diet assessed using dietary diversity questionnaire.
Malnutrition will be assessed in terms of weight-for-age and length/height-for-age reflected in nutritional status of the children. However, given the relatively limited period yet of the implementation of the program, these could not be assessed comprehensively at this time.
6. Methodology
The study is descriptive in design and employs a qualitative method of analysis to evaluate the implementation of the early warning system for food and nutrition security. This qualitative study employed the conduct of perception surveys among various stakeholders and reviewed quarterly monitoring reports of the early warning systems in the 6 covered municipalities. The surveys were supplemented with LGU document analysis and key informant interviews (KII) from experts on community assessment or surveillance.
The respondents in this study were those involved in project implementation namely those at the regional level, particularly the members of the Project Management Committee from the regional offices of the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and Bicol University; at the provincial level, the Provincial Nutrition Action Officer/Provincial Health Officer and Provincial Nutritionists from the province of Camarines Sur; at the municipal level, the members of EWS-FNS team coming from planning and development, agriculture, health, nutrition and social welfare sectors, in the 6municipalities;at the barangay level in each of the 6 municipalities, 5barangay captains or barangay chair of the health and nutrition committee, 5 Barangay Nutrition Scholars or Barangay Health Workers and 20 households or food gatekeepers per municipality; and at the national level, three from the National Nutrition Council.
Purposive sampling was used to select respondents at the municipal and barangay levels. All in all, there were 221 respondents coming from various groups, majority (105) of which was household beneficiaries consisting mainly of mothers. The primary research instruments used in the study are the structured survey questionnaires developed for various groups of
respondents. The survey questionnaires determined the respondents’ perception of the EWS- FNS system along ability of the team to collect, integrate and analyze the information gathered on a regular basis; on the side of the decision makers such as the local chief executive and members of the Sangguniang Bayan, questions were asked to determine their knowledge and perceived importance of the EWS-FNS and actions taken as a result of the information generated by the project. Their over- all appreciation of the system vis-à-vis the nutrition program of the municipality or barangay was also determined. At the household level, questionnaire for the mother-beneficiaries includes their participation in programs implemented by the barangay or the municipality in response to the information generated by the EWS-FNS.
The researcher collected the data in the 6 municipalities from 22 June to 7 July, 2015. The statistical tools used in the analysis of data are frequency count and percentage. Supplementary data from document analysis and information from various KIIs are grouped and analyzed based on the selected factors being studied.
7. Summary of Findings
On functionality of EWS-FNS
All the 6 municipalities monitored, collected and analyzed their data quarterly for the first year of implementation. This was the period that FAO assistance particularly along provision of modest transportation allowance for data collectors was available. On the 2nd year of implementation, only 3 municipalities (Canaman, Calabanga and Ragay) continued implementing EWS-FNS using LGU funds. The transport allowance may not be much but it certainly goes a long way in sustaining EWS and should be considered by the LGUs desirous of a good basis for formulating appropriate community programs.
Program implementers from the barangay and municipal levels said that the data monitored were relevant for predicting food in security. From the Information generated by the EWS-FNS, the teams were able to utilize the data on rainfall, food production, food prices, hunger incidence, dietary diversity and nutritional status which taken together indicate if food and nutrition insecurity is occurring in the municipality. The teams were able to tell if food insecurity is due to food unavailability or inaccessibility which may result to poor utilization as indicated by information when more children are malnourished or hunger is noted in more households. Ragay, given its longer period of implementation of the EWS-FNS, has been able to establish the 2nd and 3rd quarter of the year as the period where more children are malnourished and hunger is more prevalent among the vulnerable families.
Information generated will have no utility unless analyzed and results are reported to decision makers. In all municipalities, except Sipocot, the teams met regularly (quarterly) and EWS-FNS reports were provided to the respective mayors and/or members of the Sangguniang Bayan for the first year of implementation. The MPDC as the focal person of the team led the group in data analysis and ensured that information was provided to the Mayors. However, in 2014, only 3 municipalities of Canaman, Calabanga and Ragay continued to report the results of the implementation of EWS-FNS. The municipalities of Minalabac, Cabusao and Sipocot no longer implemented the system. As pointed out earlier, the EWS-FNS Team leader is a key factor in sustaining the interest and commitment of all members. He should have the support of the LCE or mayor and respect of all team members. He should be able to convene regular meetings and encourage members to analyze and discuss the results of data collected periodically. He should be able to advocate how the EWS-FNS information can be a valuable tool for adequately responding to potential food and nutrition problems that may beset the local constituents.
At the barangay level, results of EWS-FNS was not expected to be reported by the BNS/BHWs. However, in Calabanga and Canaman, results of the EWS-FNS were shared to the barangay captains and kagawad-in-charge of the committee on health. As a result, feeding programs were undertaken in the barangays using barangay funds.
At the municipal level, upon the recommendation of the EWS-FNS teams, several interventions were implemented to respond to incidence of hunger noted. The most common intervention was the provision of seeds and seedlings to affected households done in the 6 municipalities, either using regular funds of the agriculture office or supplemented by additional funds for nutrition program. All the 6 municipalities wanted transportation allowance for data collectors but only 3 municipalities provided budgetary support to the BNS and BHW in collecting data from the families. In 3 municipalities, livelihood programs for affected families, feeding program and more frequent monitoring of the nutritional status of malnourished children were more vigorously undertaken.
On allocation of resources to sustain EWS-FNS and implement agreed intervention
Logistical requirements such as office space, supplies and materials and official time were provided by all municipalities. Since computer and printer set for the use of the EWS-FNS was provided by FAO, data encoding and analyses were facilitated. As earlier discussed, only 3 of the 6 municipalities provided the transportation support on the 2nd year of implementation of the system. All except Minalabac and Sipocot issued an Executive Order for the organization of the municipal team legitimizing the role and responsibilities of its members. Encoders were provided in all the municipalities despite having to change them as their contracts as job order had already expired. Perhaps a positive indication of the commitment not only of the mayor but by the members of the EWS Teams is the sustained implementation of the system despite challenges experienced.
Funds for intervention programs were provided or sourced from the agriculture, nutrition and mayor’s office. Ragay re-aligned many of its resources to implement intervention programs similar to what Canaman and Calabanga had done indicative of the strong commitment of the local chief executives to implement EWS-FNS. With FAO’s assistance in the implementation of food production program through Telefood fund, Canaman, Calabanga and Ragay were able to assist households whose income were low, did not have much diverse diet and possibly with a malnourished child.
Sustained implementation of these programs fueled the interest of both the implementers and recipients of program to sustain the EWS-FNS activity.
8. Conclusions
The following conclusions may be gleaned from this study:
1. EWS-FNS is functional when these are present:
a. data are regularly collected, monitored and analyzed;
b. these data being collected are able to predict food in security along the following factors of availability, accessibility, utilization and stability;
c. when results are reported, appreciated and utilized by the Mayor and members of the municipal development council to address problems and issues related to hunger, malnutrition and food in security.
All these were observed in at least 3 municipalities of Canaman, Calabanga and Ragay.
2. The information generated by the system was able to identify food insecurity issues along hunger incidence and malnutrition in the municipality. Interventions such as distribution of seeds
and seedlings to improve food availability, conduct of supplemental feeding and provision of livelihood programs were implemented to address malnutrition among affected households.
3. Resources were provided by the LGUs to sustain the monitoring activity and implement the intervention programs.
4. For the EWS-FNS to run, there should be strong commitment from the Local Chief Executives and the members of the Municipal EWS-FNS team to implement this. Budgetary support is necessary to implement the system more so to implement interventions to address issues on hunger and malnutrition resulting from the EWS-FNS. This should be integrated in the regular Annual Investment Plan of the municipality to ensure a regular budget to run the system. A legal document such as Executive Order to legitimize the role of the members of the team is a necessary instrument.
5. A good working relationship and environment among members of the EWS- FNS team are needed for the group to cooperate and coordinate closely and share their expertise in the analysis of data and come up with concrete and viable recommendations to decision makers.
6. Interventions to address issues on food insecurity should not be limited to provision of safe and adequate food (e.g. feeding program) but means to permanently acquire this such as employment, skills development and market-matching of skills with job creation should be seriously considered.
7. Families who are most vulnerable such as those whose income are below food threshold and whose children suffer from malnutrition should be the priority for such interventions. Duck raising in Canaman was both a source of food and additional income for household-beneficiaries.
8. Access to sufficient and effective health and nutrition services should be made available in the barangay so as to reduce the effects of malnutrition and sickness. These services will ensure proper food utilization of adequate quality and amount of food available to household members.
9. Recommendations
The following are the author’s recommendations to further enhance the implementation of the program:
1. To ensure that issues on food and nutrition insecurity are adequately addressed in the municipality, budgetary support to implement appropriate and proven interventions should be made available to LGUs. These may be provided by national agencies such as the National Nutrition Council, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, NGOs and other relevant bodies who could work toward improving food and nutrition security of the vulnerable groups. When necessary, assisting LGUs with the preparation of project proposals for funding by appropriate agencies may be conducted for local personnel to increase chances of approval. This may be an activity that could be espoused by the PMC.
2. Regular meetings at the regional level such as the Project Management Committee should be sustained. These meetings are avenues to share the progress of implementation of EWS- FNS as well as offer possibilities of networking with regional bodies to respond to problems along food in security. The PMC may also provide continuing education for the members of the EWS-FNS teams to further hone their skills along data analysis and program development. Review of existing software, enhance the databases or indicators currently collected on EWS- FNS may also be done during PMC meetings.
3. At the provincial level, Camarines Sur should be involved in the monitoring of EWS-FNS in
its municipalities. Technical assistance should also be provided by different sectors and experts in the province. Assistance along intervention programs should also be provided by the province given their bigger resources. They may also expand the coverage of EWS-FNS to more municipalities within the province, given the experience in the 6municipalities.
4. For the EWS-FNS team to remain united and act as one, regular team building activities should be held among its members. This will foster camaraderie and better understanding of each other and hopefully iron out personality differences. It has been observed that LGU officials are sometimes so preoccupied with their work or have work overload that fraternizing with fellow workers are relegated to the back seat. Good camaraderie and occasional socialization augur well to lighten the tedious burden office routine. It will even be better if the LCE can initiate it so that he can appreciate the work of his appointed officials who are supposed to assist him.
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