PASAY CITY, Nov. 7 (PIA) - Mandaluyong City led twelve (12) local government units (LGUs) that were conferred with the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition or CROWN Award during the 2013 National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony held November 5, 2013 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City.

The CROWN award is given to LGUs that have consistently shown excellent implementation of their local nutrition programs and reduction in the prevalence of undernutrition for three consecutive years.

The award proved that Mandaluyong City proves was able to trickle its economic growth and translate it to food and security enjoyed by its constituents.

Its City Nutrition Committee (CNC), led by Mayor Benhur Abalos, Jr., in partnership with the City Nutrition Action Officer Mrs. Carmelita Abalos, with the support and cooperation of the 27 barangay nutrition committees have developed a package of nutrition interventions enhanced by innovation and best practices led to its winning the CROWN award this year.

The Mandaluyong CNC, with the support of the City Council that approved the Php 57 million allocation for the following nutrition related interventions made the award possible:

• Breastfeeding Patrol (BFP) and ERPATS for Breastfeeding –one of the first ever initiatives in the country that promote, protect and support breastfeeding in every household. The Breastfeeding Patrol is a community support group in a barangay, composed of mothers with successful breastfeeding experience who have undergone training on counselling skills to provide correct and adequate information for mothers with breastfeeding issues. To date, the city has 320 BFP members who assisted barangay health and nutrition volunteers, counseled 3,700 lactating mothers and ultimately improved the city’s exclusive breastfeeding rate to 93%. The ERPAT or Empowerment Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities and Trainings, moreover, targeted fathers to provide the needed support to wives and other female relatives in their journey to successful breastfeeding. Members of ERPAT in all barangays have undergone lectures on the basics of breastfeeding and demonstrations on cup feeding and proper positioning a baby or latching. The BFP and ERPATs are also tapped during emergencies to safeguard the practice of breastfeeding in evacuation camps.
• Garantisadong Pambuntis Plus (GP+) –is an information dissemination package for pregnant women that focuses on the importance of safe motherhood, tetanus toxoid immunization, proper nutrition, dental hygiene, and infant and young child feeding practices. In 2012 alone, 1,300 mothers were provided with health and nutrition information through barangay assemblies.
• Batang Ina-Ang Munting Anghel sa Mandaluyong project –addresses the city’s increasing number of teenage, pregnancies in order for pregnant teenagers to realize their full potential by safeguarding their rights, enabling them to access intensive counselling and case management in all barangay health centers and at the Mandaluyong City Medical Center. 
• Oplan Dagdag Timbang, Balik Sigla – a 120-day supplementary feeding activity for 575 underweight preschool children and 110 wasted school children in 26 barangays. Children are fed with nutritious lunch and snacks from a 5-week menu cycle developed by the staff of the City Nutrition Office and prepared by Barangay Nutrition Scholars, health workers and mothers of enrolled children. The Mandaluyong CNC partnered with various nongovernment organizations such as Kababaihan sa Kaunlaran ng Mandaluyong, Rotary Club, Alay Pag-asa Christian Foundation, Soroptimist International and the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship Education to support the project. To date, 90.4% of the underweight and wasted children have been rehabilitated. 
• Nutricake, Kusinero Festival, Busog Lusog Caravan and Veggie Caravan sa Eskwelahan –various food-related projects that are geared to increase vegetable consumption among households, particularly of school children and preschool children. The Veggie Caravan sa Eskwelahan project targeted public school Grade I-VI students where lectures and games on importance of eating vegetables were highlighted. 
• Manda-Run and I Run for Nutrition (Takbo Para sa Kalusugan)-wellness projects that promote healthy lifestyle among city hall employees, students, overweight/obese constituents and fitness enthusiasts. The project included diet counseling, and measurement of body mass index, weight and height. From 500 running enthusiasts at the start the project, there are currently 1,500 runners who join the monthly fun run. 
• Kap’s Amazing talent –a resource generation activity, which showcase the talents of Barangay Captains in a concert, proceeds will be used for the benefit of the undernourished children. The activity has since provided funds to augment expenses for the city’s feeding program. Since its conceptualization in 2011, the activity has earned some Php341,500 that has been shared to the Oplan Dagdag Timbang, Balik Sigla project.

These innovations resulted in the further reduction of the prevalence of underweight among preschool children at 1.7% in 2010, 1.3% in 2012 and a 5.9% wasting prevalence rate among school children also in 2012.

Moreover, these innovations mirrored the investments of Mandaluyong City in upholding their standing, not only as a tiger in the economic sector, but also in human development.

The other LGU CROWN award recipients are: the provinces of Misamis Oriental and Davao del Norte; cities of Cauayan in Isabela,Valencia in Bukidnon, and Bislig in Surigao del Sur; and the municipalities of Paombong in Bulacan, Mogpog in Marinduque, Gubat in Sorsogon, Jordan in Guimaras, Jagna in Bohol, and New Corella in Davao del Norte.

The NNC annually conducts the awarding ceremony to recognize the efforts of local governments and the nutrition volunteer workers for their contribution and excellent performance in improving the nutrition situation in their areas. (NNC/RJB/SDL with reports from LFB/PIA-NCR)

-See more at: http://ncr.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=231383726083#sthash.DKxByXhF.dpuf

 Photo courtesy of National Nutrition Council (Official) https://www.facebook.com/nncofficial