NNC CL scales up rice fortification advocacy

• Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2661454986626/nnc-cl-scales-up-rice-fortification-advocacy
• Saturday, February 13, 2016

By Marie Joy L. Simpao (CLJD/MJLS-PIA 3)

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Feb.11 (PIA) -- In a bid to strengthen the marketing and consumption of iron-fortified rice in Central Luzon, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) recently convened partner agencies and other stakeholders for a seminar-workshop on Rice Fortification for Social Safety Net Programs.

This is in accordance with the RA 8972, also known as the “Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000”, which mandates the fortification of rice with vitamin A and iron, cooking oil and refined sugar with vitamin A, and milled rice with iron; and also promotes voluntary fortification of processed food to address the micronutrient malnutrition problem in the country.

During the forum, NNC Central Luzon Regional Program Coordinator Ana Maria Rosaldo stressed the need for convergence and collaborative ideas and action in order to successfully carry out the said advocacy.

“Through this forum, I encourage everyone here to jumpstart and seal our commitment to the development and improvement of the health of the people in Central Luzon. May we be generous enough to share our resources, efforts and ideas in crafting an action plan that would lead to the full and effective implementation of our advocacy,” Rosaldo said.

She also said that the activity is an opportunity to intensify the advocacy on I-Rice by establishing the linkage between potentials users and suppliers of iron-fortified rice in the region.

Meanwhile, UNICEF consultant Hector Maglalang presented the results of the study entitled “Philippine Rice Consumption for Social Safety Net Programs”. The study aims to determine rice consumption of social safety net programs and the ability of the Philippines to fortify its rice for these programs and use the data and its analysis to advocate for the use of iron-fortified rice for these programs.

Aside from the study, Maglalang also discussed on the information of sources and costs of fortified rice as well as model LGU experience in support of the law.

Towards the end of the activity, NNC facilitated a brief workshop to determine possible social marketing activities to scale up rice fortification in the region particularly for the local government units, non-government organizations, private sectors, media and other regional partners.