LAGAWE, Ifugao, Nov. 12 (PIA) -- The National Nutrition Council (NNC) has bestowed the first year Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (Crown) maintenance award to the province of Ifugao during the 2012 National Nutrition awarding ceremony in Pasay City on Friday.

Members of the provincial nutrition council (PNC) led by Governor Eugene Balitang received the award from Health Secretary Enrique Ona.

The said awarding ceremony, aimed at recognizing the contributions of local government units and barangay nutrition scholars in improving their communities, was graced by President Aquino and participated by other nutrition awardees all over the country.

The award was conferred on Ifugao for the efficient and effective management of the provincial nutrition program which resulted to the improvement of the nutritional status of its people particularly the children.

Assistant Secretary of Health Maria-Bernardina T. Flores said the conferring of the award to Ifugao was based on the recommendation of the National Nutrition Evaluation Team.

“The result of the NNET validation visit on May 21-25 affirmed the efficient and effective management of the provincial nutrition program which lead to downward trend in nutritional status of pre-school and schoolchildren and their families in the community,” she said.

The Crown award was given to Ifugao last year for being adjudged by the inter-agency Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team as the 2010 outstanding province in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the implementation of its nutrition action plan to curb malnutrition for three consecutive years.(JDP/MBL-PIA CAR, Ifugao)