National Evaluation Team conducts MELLPI Pro CROWN evaluation in Paranas, Samar

By SAMAR NEWS.COM
June 1, 2026

CATBALOGAN CITY – The Municipality of Paranas took center stage in the national nutrition spotlight from May 25 to 28, 2026, as a National Evaluation Team composed of technical experts from the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Central Office, the Department of Health (DOH), and UNICEF arrived to conduct the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI Pro) CROWN Evaluation – one of the most prestigious assessments a local government unit can undergo in the Philippines.

The MELLPI Pro serves as the NNC's upgraded performance assessment system, designed to measure how effectively LGUs carry out their nutrition programs. Under the CROWN – or Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition – evaluation track, the team scrutinized six key dimensions of the municipality's nutrition governance: vision and mission; nutrition-related laws and policies; governance and organizational structure; management functions of the Local Nutrition Committee; delivery of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions and services; and measurable improvements in community nutritional status, including reductions in stunting, wasting, and malnutrition.

An LGU becomes eligible to vie for the CROWN Award only after earning the Green Banner Award for three consecutive years as an outstanding regional winner, after which the NNC's National Nutrition Evaluation Team conducts the MELLPI Pro CROWN Evaluation annually for three consecutive years – underscoring the gravity and distinction of Paranas' current candidacy.

A Collaborative Start

The four-day deployment began with a courtesy call on Municipal Mayor Hon. Elvira U. Babalcon, setting a collaborative and welcoming tone for the multi-day validation process. The Provincial Nutrition Office, headed by Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) of Samar Ms. Ysabel Aquino, was present on opening day to demonstrate solid provincial support for the evaluation.

On the ground, Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) Bernice Jessica A. Enguerra worked closely with NNC Region VIII liaison Carl Michael Sacramento, the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program Provincial Nutrition Focal Person (PNFP) of Samar. Sacramento managed the day-to-day coordination, accompanied the evaluators through desk reviews, and joined them during intensive field validations across the municipality.

"Exchange Your Eco Bricks" Program Draws National Praise

A clear highlight of the evaluation came during the May 27 field visits, when the national team witnessed Paranas' innovative local programs firsthand. The evaluators heavily commended the municipality's award-winning "Exchange Your Eco Bricks" program – a creative initiative that allows residents to trade tightly packed plastic bottle waste for essential rice and food packs. By directly linking environmental protection with immediate food security and malnutrition prevention, the program exemplifies the kind of sustainable, ground-level innovation the NNC seeks to champion nationwide.

Closing Remarks Affirms Strong Local Governance

The evaluation week concluded with an exchange of valuable insights from both the national and regional sides. Ms. Ysabel Aquino and the Provincial Nutrition Office returned on the final day for the formal closing.

Mr. Retz Pol Pacalioga, Nutrition Officer from UNICEF's health and nutrition sector, highlighted the solid governance underpinning the town's nutrition programs. Ms. Christine Jane Almira, Nutrition Officer II from the NNC Central Office Nutrition Surveillance Division, focused her remarks on how effectively local nutrition activities are being executed on the ground.

From the health sector, DOH Representative Mr. Nikolai Estefano Villar expressed that the LGU's seriousness in fulfilling its health and nutrition mandates was unmistakably evident. In closing the activities, NNC Region VIII's Carl Michael Sacramento shared a message of genuine appreciation for the municipality's visible dedication to prioritizing the health of its communities through creative, sustainable local programs.

Looking Ahead

NNC Region VIII and the National Evaluation Team extended their warmest gratitude to Mayor Elvira Babalcon, MNAO Bernice Enguerra, and the entire Paranas Local Nutrition Committee for their incredible hospitality and warm accommodation throughout the evaluation week.