Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.

Objectives

1. To promote awareness and practice of nutrition principles through a campaign directed at the public in general and the vulnerable groups in particular
2. To increase manpower resources for community nutrition work through depth training programs
3. To develop a pool of resource persons through staff development programs
4. To develop/improve techniques and approaches to nutrition education through applied research
5. To assist/cooperate with government and private agencies involved in nutrition work.

The NFP is known for various nutritional education programs.

They have also implemented the Urban Family Development Program in 1991 to improve the nutritional status of depressed urban families through livelihood assistance and health and nutrition classes and services.

Nutrition and Health Kiddie Class (NHKC)

A unique feature of the NHKC is the participation of the volunteer teachers who handle all the classes without any compensation. Usually, they are mothers or youth from the community/ barangay who are trained to teach the preschool aged 4–6 years. They are called “MOTHER COORDINATORS (MCs) or NUTRITION YOUTH COORDINATORS (NYCs)”, respectively. The NHKC follows the school calendar, from June of the current year till March of succeeding year. Classes are held daily or 2-3 times a week, depending on the community. A session lasts for 2 hours.

The NHKC has a supplementary feeding component. Primarily, the feeding aims to show the child and their mothers on how to feed them properly and to internalize the topics/subjects taught in the NHKC. Foods served are nutritious, easy -to -prepare and economical, which can also be prepared and served at home for the rest of the family members. The marketing, preparation, and cooking are done by the mothers of the children for the supplementary feeding sessions.

Family Development Program (FDP)

This is one of the major activities of the Foundation that focus on the development of the family members to be responsible for the betterment of their health and ultimately improving the quality of their lives through: conscious recognition of each and everyone’s responsibility to themselves, family and community; providing opportunities and support to augment regular income through learning of some income generating activities, improved health and nutrition condition of their families through the implementation of some direct nutrition intervention activities; and developing skills in the implementation and management of community nutrition project and related activities. Some of its components include the following:

Values Formation

NFP promotes activities that help individuals realize his value and potentials towards the development of the communities where he lived. It is the main goal of this program to make people realize a very important role he is to play for the success of their plans for the benefit of the community.

Community Organization

NFP helps organize the communities and facilitates group dynamics, teambuilding activities and programs designed to promote camaraderie, teamwork, and cooperation among the people. Yearly program planning and evaluation focusing on problems encountered in the program implementation is also regularly conducted.

Medical, Dental, and Nutrition Services

In cooperation with the local health centers or district health units- medical, dental, and nutrition services are conducted. A team of doctors, dentists, nutritionists, and barangay health worker goes around the puroks of the barangay, on a regular schedule, to render services such as deworming, regular weighing, and dietary counseling.

Currently, the FDP is being undertaken in communities of Quezon City namely – Brgy. Santol, Brgy. Doña Imelda, Sitios Kaingin I, Kaingin II, and Proper of Brgy. Pansol and Sitios Chamberette, Mary Town, Park 7, and Daan-Tubo of Brgy. Loyola Heights; Tondo, Manila, and in the whole Municipality of Alaminos, Laguna.

Dr. Juan Salcedo, Jr. Memorial Lecture

In the past years, the Foundation invited speakers who discussed topics on: “Collaboration and Institutional Development, The Politics of International Nutrition; Nutritional Repercussions of Developmental Transition; Perspectives and Challenges in Nutrition in the Philippines; Cancer and You; Management of Nutrition Programs by Local Executives; Infant and Young Child Nutrition; Coconut Oil and Cardio-Vascular Diseases, and Strategies in the Prevention and Management of Hidden Hungers”.

Nutrition Networking

Another way of ensuring effectiveness in the use of scarce resources is by networking and coordinating with the different agencies that aim and work with a common objective. This program is done mainly through cooperative services with GOs and NGOs in the country as well as international agencies/organizations; membership in working committees/advocacy groups; provision of resource persons/speakers; and consultation services.

For a number of years, NFP has been the Philippines Adhering body of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS). Likewise, it has maintained linkages with other international agencies such as the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS), UNICEF, International Food Policy Research Institute, Helen Keller International, and the World Health Organization.

Publications

The Foundation publishes various books of nutritious recipes.

2013 - 2015 NFP Officers and Board of Trustees

Chairman-President:
Rodolfo F. Florentino, M.D., Ph.D.
Former Director
Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), Department of Science and Technology
Senior Scientific Advisor
Institute of Life Sciences International (ILSI) Southeast Asia, and
Consultant
Nutrition Program Management, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Vice Chairman-President and Acting Executive Director:
Jesus Fernando B. Inciong, M.D.
Director, Weight Management Center, St. Luke's Medical Center
Surgeon, St. Luke’s Medical Center
Chairman, Committee on Critical Care and Surgical Nutrition, Philippine College of Surgeons

Secretary:
Atty. Leo S. Romero
Partner
Rowala, Gonzales, Ong Law Office

Treasurer:
Carmencita S. Loyola, Ph.D.
Professorial Lecturer
College of Public Health, University of the Philippines, and
Vice-Chair, Research Ethics Committee, The Medical City

Executive Trustee:
Pacita L. Zara, M.D.
Former Executive Director
Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Imelda A. Agdeppa, Ph.D.
Assistant Scientist and Officer-in-Charge
Nutritional Assessment and Monitoring Division (NAMD)
Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Board of Trustee:
Rhoda Joy R. Buenviaje, MSc.
Nutrition and Health Manager
Unilever Philippines

Iris Rowena A. Bernardo, MPH
Chairperson, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics
College of Nutrition and Food Science
Polytechnic University of the Philippines