The National Nutrition Council-NCR recognized outstanding local government units (LGUs) with exemplary performance in nutrition program management and implementation and Local Nutrition Focal Points (LNFP) who have shown exemplary performance in 2019 during the Gawad Parangal sa Nutrisyon or the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (RNAC).

The hybrid RNAC held on December 7, 2021 at The Heritage Hotel Manila in Pasay City was attended by 52 guests and awardees onsite, and witnessed by 247 and 122 Nutrition Action Officers, Nutritionist-Dietitians, Barangay Nutrition Scholars and members of Local Nutrition Committees via Zoom platform and NNC-NCR’s Facebook Page, respectively.
Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) Chair and Metro Manila Center for Health Development Regional Director Dr. Gloria J. Balboa welcomed the participants and expressed her happiness seeing all the awardees particularly the local chief executives present. “Aking ikinagagalak na narito tayong lahat upang ipagdiwang ang pagbibigay ng parangal para sa iisang layunin at ito ay pagbibigay ng dekalidad na serbisyong pangkalusugan at mapanatili ang mabuting nutrisyon at gawing prayoridad ang adbokasiya na ito. Ang bawat isa ay may mahalagang papel na ginagampanan sa pagtataguyod ng mabuting nutrisyon at pagsasagawa ng malusog na pamumuhay,” said RD Balboa.  She asked everyone to continue their good mission to improve the nutrition situation in the region.

Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo of the National Nutrition Council-NCR said that the conduct of the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) this year was a challenge, but it was all worth it. “Ang Pangrehiyong Gawad Parangal sa Nutrisyon sa taong ito ay maituturing nating isang malaking biyaya, dahil sa kabila ng pandemya, tayo ay nabigyan ng pagkakataon na magkasama-sama upang bigyang parangal ang mga lokal na pamahalaan at mga Nutrition Action Officers, city and municipal nutrition program coordinators at barangay nutrition scholars”, said RNPC Federizo.  The MELLPI is the monitoring and evaluation strategy of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition or PPAN, which is the country’s blueprint in improving the nutrition situation of the country. RNPC Federizo also emphasized that nutrition programs should be well-planned, adequately budgeted, efficiently and effectively implemented by the local nutrition committees to have a better chance in chance in winning the war against malnutrition amidst the pandemic.

During the RNAC, Assistant Secretary and National Nutrition Council Executive Director Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang shared that local nutrition committees play important roles in improving the health and nutrition situation in NCR. “Hindi natin mapabababa ang dami ng batang bansot kung hindi natin tutukan ang unang 1000 araw ng mga bata. Ito ang “golden window of opportunity” kung saan dapat sapat ang nutrisyon ng ina at ni baby para maiwasan ang irreversible effects ng malnutrition”, Asec Dayanghirang emphasized.

Keynote Speaker Hon. Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr., Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, was passionate as ever in advocating nutrition as he shared the importance of having well-nourished children in ensuring our nation's development. He encouraged all LGUs to prioritize the First 1000 Days of a child's life because this is the golden window of opportunity and as such, children should be provided with the best nutrition during this critical period of growth and development. As a former Mayor and Chair of Mandaluyong City Nutrition Committee, he proudly shared the successful programs and projects that they implemented that resulted to the improvement of nutrition situation of their city, enabling them to get the highest nutrition award in conferred by the National Nutrition Council - the Nutrition Honor Award.

One of the highlights of the event was the conferment of the 2019 Green Banner Seal of Compliance Award to Muntinlupa City for their exemplary performance in Nutrition Program Management. The award was received by Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, together with CNAO Dr. Magdalena Meana and CNPC Ms. Ana Ordenes. They take pride in being the only LGU to receive this award.

Award of recognition was also given to Malabon City Nutrition Action Officer Chef Melissa S. Oreta as the 2019 Regional Outstanding Nutrition Action Officer of the Year, Ms. Marissa C. Almario of Pasig City as the 2019 Regional Outstanding Local Nutrition Program Coordinator of the Year, and Barangay Nutrition Scholar Alicia A. Tanabe from Alabang, Muntinlupa City as the 2019 Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS).

Special awards were also given to LGUs in recognition of their good practices in nutrition program management. Certificates of Appreciation were given to the members of the RNC for their active participation in the various undertakings of the NNC-NCR and their invaluable contribution in the implementation of the PPAN in the region, as well as to LGUs that participated in the MELLPI Pro, members of the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET), and the regional nutrition networks of Nutrition Action Officers, local Nutrition Program Coordinators, and Barangay Nutrition Scholars for their continued support and cooperation in the various undertakings of the NNC-NCR.

Through this Gawad Parangal, the NNC-NCR hopes that more LGUs will be inspired and take on the challenge of achieving zero malnutrition in their localities through the efficient and effective implementation of PPAN-based nutrition programs.  

For the complete list of awardees, please click this link:  https://www.nnc.gov.ph/component/phocadownload/category/63-policies-plans-activities?download=3261:2021-regional-nutrition-award-ceremony-list-of-winners

Written by: NOIII Emerenciana L. Francia and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo