The National Nutrition Council takes pride not only on its achievements as an organization but also with the exemplary performance of its personnel towards career advancement. 

Among the recent addition to the roster of NNC’s feat is the graduation with distinction of NNC Region XII’s Nutrition Officer III Gladys Mae Fernandez to the Middle Managers Class Batch 10 – “Binhi” of the Public Management Development Program – Development Academy of the Philippines on 18 November 2016.

NO III Fernandez bested other scholars from other national government agencies after her Re-entry Project titled “Culture-Sensitive Health and Nutrition Intervention for TBolis” was awarded as the Most Citizen-Centric Re-Entry Project.

Recognizing the problem on high malnutrition prevalence due to inadequate food intake, poor caring practices, and poor health status of the Tbolis, NO III Fernandez’s project aimed at reducing the number of severely underweight 6-71 months old preschool children in Sitio Lemkati, Datal D’lanag  Tboli in South Cotabato.

Through its interventions such as health and nutrition assessment, documentation of traditional health and nutrition practices, health and nutrition classes, and livelihood assistance to families with malnourished children, Fernandez’s Re-Entry Project was able to significantly reduce the number of identified severely underweight 6-71 months old children in the sitio from 20 to 11 children.

Fernandez’s efforts in integrating her Re-Entry Project with the indigenous peoples of Tboli, as well as her collaboration with the local government unit by teaching them culture-sensitive approaches towards nutrition improvement contributed to her achieving the coveted Most Citizen-Centric Re-Entry Project Award.

Our congratulations to you, NO III Gladys Mae Fernandez! NNC is truly proud of you!