Ms. Sharon Tablada, BNS, Baracca, Vigan City - Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless. This has been the motivation of Ms. Sharon Tablada to effectively execute her role as Barangay Nutrition Scholar not only in Barraca but in Vigan as a whole.
Barangay Barraca being the smallest barangay in the city of Vigan continues to innovate and improve its health and nutrition interventions to deliver effectively and meet the needs of its constituents. With its limited resources, Barraca finds ways to reach its goals and aspirations in attaining a health and nutrition empowered community.
Being the main actor in the overall planning and implementation of the Barangay Nutrition Action Plan, she sees to it that the PPAN priority nutrition program interventions are incorporated into the plan. She also initiates meetings and nutrition-related meetings to communicate well the status of nutrition to the members of the Barangay Nutrition Committee and among the different stakeholders of Nutrition.
With the collaborative efforts, hard work of BNS Sharon, and the support of the City Government, BNS, and other stakeholders, Barraca was able to bag the 3rd Place for Best Performing Barangay Nutrition Committee – City Level in 2019. Ms. Sharon was also recognized as the City Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar in 2014, 2019 and one of the finalists on the National Outstanding BNS in 2014. This is attributed to the multi-sectoral interventions made in the barangay under the Nutrition Program.
Among the programs implemented include:
- Intensive advocacy on proper nutrition as evidenced by their functional Barangay Nutrition Committee and continuing nutrition information and education.
- Breastfeeding groups were organized and mobilized.
- Aside from feeding programs funded by the barangay, funds solicited from different local and foreign benefactors were also utilized.
- Distribution of seeds and vegetables to families of malnourished children.
- Tree Planting, vermiculture, home, and community gardening are strongly given importance to increase food production within the community.
- Programs from the City are well implemented, supported, and monitored such as the “Pagsapulan; Raniag ti Masakbayan” – a poverty alleviation program through the provision of livelihood for the poorest of the poor and the Pantawid Pamilya Beneficiaries.
- Provision of Mobile IEC that helps in the house-to-house visits to promote Health and Nutrition
At first, nutrition program implementation was very difficult due to resistance and indifferences of concerned sectors. Giving up never crossed her mind, she was very dedicated and determined to uplift other people’s lives. For BNS Sharon, behind her recognitions is seeing the members of the community empowered in selecting what is best for their health and nutrition.
The smallest act of caring, the power of a touch, kind words, and a listening ear has the potential to turn a person’s life around. Her passion to serve and her commitment to inspiring others will forever continue.
