A PROPOSED ordinance granting benefits for Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) monitoring of nutritional status of children is up in La Trinidad.
"Granting them minimal benefits will provide them the means to continue volunteering, if not working full time. More importantly giving them that treasured dignity to effectively participate in the nutritional monitoring and care of the community," said La Trinidad Councilor Roderick Awingan, proponent of the ordinance.
A P3,000-incentive per month will be given to every BNS in addition to the financial incentives provided by their respective barangays.
Additional benefits include PhilHealth support benefit, coordination with Social Security System (SSS) for the payment of self-employed contribution, inclusion in the annual medical and wellness program of the municipality, livelihood programs, and free legal services.
BNS is a trained community worker who links with service providers.
Qualifications for BNS must be a resident and registered voter of the barangay for at least four years and can speak the local dialects; possesses leadership potentials as evidence by membership in community organizations; willing to serve the barangay; at least high school graduate; and physically and mentally fit.
BNS are tasked to identify malnourished children through community survey. They are to organize into networks of 20-25 households, or into community-based organizations working for the improvement of their nutrition situation.
Scholars also serve as linkage builders to ensure that members of the community, the underweight children, avail of nutrition and related services.
The municipality in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (Tesda) provide other opportunities such as special training programs, continuing education, training, field immersions, grants and exposure tours.
Awingan said nutrition scholars who have actively served for 10 years since their appointment be qualified for the loyalty service incentive.
For every 10 years of active and continuous service since their appointment will be given P5,000.
A BNS will be assigned in all barangays in the municipality to assist the Municipal Nutrition Action officer also tasked to supervised and monitored BNS.
