ALFONSOLISTA, Ifugao – Mayor Glenn Prudenciano approved an ordinance granting incentives to retiring barangay nutrition scholars upon reaching the optimal or mandatory age of retirement.

The ordinance states nutrition scholars, at the age of 60 to 65, could apply early retirement with an incentive of P20, 000. Those who reach the compulsory retirement age of 65 will receive P25, 000.

The giving of incentives is in recognition of the untiring services of barangay nutrition scholars who help in the reduction of malnutrition cases in the municipality and gaining the Green Banner Award on nutrition in the region.

Barangay nutrition scholars are trained community workers whose basic tasks include caring for the malnourished, mobilizing the community for the improvement of their nutrition situation, linking the community with service providers, and assisting in the delivery of nutrition services.

To qualify as a barangay nutrition scholar, one must be bonafide resident of the barangay for at least four years and can speak the local language well. They must possess leadership potentials as evidence d by membership and leadership in community organizations and willing to serve the barangay, part-time or full-time for at least one year.

they must at least elementary graduate but preferably reached high school level, physically and mentally fit, more than 18 years old, but younger than 60 years old. Presidential Decree 1569 mandated the development of one BNS in every barangay in the country. It also mandated the National Nutrition Council to administer the program in cooperation with local government units. - Marcelo B. Lihgawon