Health and nutrition advocates from the regional office, city government, and barangays were joined by city officials in recognizing the best workers and lo-yal service awardees last Friday at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center auditorium.
With the theme, “Gutom at malnutrisyon, sama-sama nating wakasan,” the best implemented barangay nutrition program, best nutrition action officers and scholars and workers of the Baguio City Nutrition Council were awarded. A tribute was also given to Belma Acop of Pacdal, an outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar awardee who passed on due to an illness last week. Her posthumous honor was received by members of her family and the barangay.
The culminating program for the Nutrition Month was graced by National Nutrition Council-CAR OIC Program Coordinator Eileen Blanco. Blanco hailed the nutrition and health workers for their efforts in keeping malnutrition among Baguio dwellers in check. She talked about the need for food security wherein safe and nutritious food should be readily available. She presented the interplay of poverty, unemployment, size of household, and the self-rating of individuals as to hunger and malnutrition. The right to have nutritious food is part of the millennium development goals, she said.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan who delighted the audience with stories also challenged the health workers to teach responsibility to the barangays. Malnutrition will decrease if each would shun vices and think of the family needs first, he said. He added this practice will radiate to the family and community and will be supported by the government. Domogan bats for sustained livelihood assistance instead of dole-outs.
Rep. Nicasio Aliping added attitude and discipline matters most in keeping malnutrition down, while BGHMC OIC Chief Jimmy Cabfit welcomed the group. He said hunger and malnutrition, a multi-faceted problem, should have all government agencies working together to minimize, if not eliminate it thoroughly.
Health Services Office Head Florence Reyes presented the progress of the health districts of Atok Trail, Aurora Hill, Campo Filipino, City Camp, Loakan, Pacdal, Engineers Hill, Irisan, Quirino Hill, Mines View, Pinsao, and Quezon Hill. The improvement of the Health Services Office (Baguio Health Department) was also shown.
Innovations of the health program such as advocacy walk against malnutrition, pabasa sa malnutrisyon, health fair, and recycling efforts were also presented.
Barangay Gibraltar, which won for having the best implemented barangay nutrition program, rendered the doxology while outstanding barangay nutrition scholar Monica Sicat led the national anthem.
Pupils from Country Club Elementary School, City Camp, and Lucban Health districts presented health-related intermission numbers.
Anita Urbano and Josephine Urbino of the Health Services Office, Nutrition Services were awarded for having served as secretariat of the BCNC for the past 20 years; Frinida Chinopsan of the same office served for 15 years, while Corazon Cabanayan, Jocelyn Cagay-an, and Ma. Conception Itliong served for 10 years.
For 15 years, Alberto Tomas of the City Mayor’s Office, Special Services Division has served as member of the technical working group of the BCNC while Elizabeth Fontanos of the Department of Education, Baguio City Division served for 10 years.
Erlinda Loma-ang of Alfonso Tabora barangay has been Barangay Nutrition Action Officer (BNAO) for 15 years, while Yolanda Benlingan of Camp 7 and Rosemarie Garabiles of East Modernsite served for 15 years as barangay nutrition scholars.
Sherla Belarmino and Lorna Maliones are BNAO awardees for 10 years; Belarmino in Fairview and Maliones at Outlook Drive.
BNAO service awardees for five years are Emily Alzate of Imelda Village, Lorraine Bernal of Lower Lourdes, Estelita Cachero of Middle Rock Quarry, Sherry Angela Daez of Palma Urbano, Lucia Dolteo of Imelda Marcos, Diana Gajonera of Irisan, Lorna Manuel of Asin Road, Luningning Matriz of San Antonio Village, Peter Melchor of Bakakeng Central, Nayla Napat-a of Brookside, and Juliet Wakit of West Quirino Hill.
Nelly Cachero of Scout Barrio, Marlene Calindas of Lourdes Subdivision Extension, Levita Concepcion of Country Club, Joaquina Dayuwan of St. Joseph Village, Wilma Dela Cruz of Fairview, and Demetria Padadac of Kias are barangay nutrition scholars for 10 years.
BNS service awardees for five years are Pacita Antonio of Asin Road, Joan Camacho of Victoria Village, Jenny Dang-as for East Quirino Hill, Imelda Espineli of Fort del Pilar, Jessica Gabatino of Dizon-Manzanillo, Susan Habiling of Camp 7, Leonora Lipawen of Dontogan, Elnora Loy of West Modernsite, Jocelyn Manipon of Ferdinand barangay, Medinah Masla of Mines View, Brenda Padopad of West Quirino Hill, Herminia Sagofian of Loakan Apugan, Conchita Sanchez of South Sanitary Camp, Dyna Solis of Dominican-Mirador, Monica Sicat of City Camp Proper, Minda Soriano of San Antonio Village, and Conception Viray of Holy Ghost Proper.
The city’s outstanding BNS are Monica Sicat of City Camp Proper, Zenaida Dana of Gibraltar, Jo Ann Alvez of Salud Mitra, Imelda Tibalao of SLU-SVP, who ranked first to fourth places.
Belma Acop of Pacdal won posthumously as fifth place.
The city’s best performing barangay nutrition action officers are Lucia Dolteo of Imelda Marcos is first, followed by a tie by Marilou Batara of MRR- Queen of Peace and Luningning Matriz of San Antonio Village; fourth place is Michelle Oliva of Victoria Village and fifth place is Vovelyn Hermano of SLU-SVP.
Gibraltar headed by Punong Barangay Roy Tao-ey placed first in the City’s Best Implemented Barangay Nutrition Program; Pacdal with PB Roberto Medina is second, Imelda Marcos with PB Ernesto Laguardia; Happy Hallow with PB Soriano Palonan, Kias with PB Timothy Pudlao, Jr. placed second to fifth places, respectively.
The City Nutrition Evaluation Team went over the records of the BNS, BNAOs, with Juliet Gumangan of the Department of Interior and Local Government-City Field Office, with members Alberto Tomas of Social Services Division-City Mayor’s Office, Nellie Dela Cerna and Bernadette Brillantes of the Planning and Development Office, Joy Hilario and Janine Abalos of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, Hermonico Guanzon of the Health Services Office, and Lealyn Catiyan of the Nutrition Office-Baguio.
