Ms. Leilani Mae Agno, BNS, San Lorenzo, Laoag City - The woman whose dedication and passion to her craft are incomparable. Her existence is meant for public service. Truly, the woman who is destined to uplift the nourishment of children and mothers in the community. She is Leilani Mae Agno, the Barangay Nutrition Scholar of Barangay 1, San Lorenzo, Laoag City.
Lani, as her friends and family fondly call her, is a 2017 and 2018 Finalist in the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI), City Level, and now a hopeful in the Search for Most Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar, Regional Level.
She may have a degree on Bachelor of Science in Commerce, major in Management Accounting but her compassion and interest in public service at the barangay level were noticed when she volunteered as a member of the Rural Improvement Club in 2009. As her active membership flourished vigorously, she was eventually appointed as the Barangay Nutrition Scholar in 2013.
Ms. Agno is indeed unstoppable. She has remarkably proven that the trust and confidence attached to her appointment would not be put to waste. She frequently goes out to reach out to her clientele. If one official is being seen roaming around, that would be she. She has religiously been conducting home-visit to counsel pregnant and lactating mothers to advocate exclusive breastfeeding and the importance of immunization of babies and prenatal check-ups. Consequently, she dutifully implements complementary feeding to babies ages 6 months up to 2 years old, Operation Timbang Plus, and counseling families with undernourished children. As part of her advocacy efforts, she monitors the implementation of different programs in the barangay such as IYCF, backyard vegetable gardening, and proper selection of food among households.
Leilani was born to be a good leader, a good follower, and a good colleague. As a leader, she initiated the put up of Nutrition Corner that eventually became an office in the barangay hall where quarterly meetings of the Barangay Nutrition Committee have been conducted. As a follower, she complied with her mandates by attending training and seminars to equip her with the necessary skills and knowledge. Lastly, as a good colleague, she harmoniously works with barangay officials like the Barangay Health Workers (BHW) through extending assistance in administering deworming tablets and Vitamin A to 6–59-month children, monitoring dengue cases, and accompanying mothers seeking health interventions at the Rural Health Unit. Incredibly, she also assisted by volunteering herself as personnel-in-charge who monitors the mobility of identified positive cases of COVID 19.
She is so compassionate as she sees the struggles of the less fortunate mothers in providing their infants and children with proper nourishment. Thus, she innovated a project that in a way would help her clientele. Being so-called “plantita”, Lani thought of putting up a nursery where she propagates ornamental and fruit-bearing trees to be sold at an affordable price. The proceeds had at least subsidized the supplemental feedings conducted. She also distributed seeds to identified households to be planted as the source of raw and healthful food.
Other characteristics that she possesses are being persistent to learn, being joyful with kids, and being competitive towards victory. She is so thirsty for new knowledge, trends, and information that would make her well-versed in her job through her participation in the different benchmarking/lakbay-aral of the barangay in different places like Olongapo, Quezon City, Tagaytay, and more. On the other hand, being with her nieces and nephews who have brought her joy and smile, she rendered unselfish service as a tutor/teacher during the Aralikha Summer Workshop, a program of the barangay that caters to the needs of the children and youth concerning academics and performances. Because she always wanted to make a difference, she attended TESDA skills training on Cookery and Baking and Pastry NC II which warranted her to join in a Healthy Baby Contest and Cook Fest.
In pursuit of the excellent performance of her mandate as the Barangay Nutrition Scholar, Ms. Leilani Mae Agno continues to soar high to help the community make it a healthful, productive, and safe place where the next posterity lives in.
