Pledges of additional funds for capability building on Promote Good Nutrition and Infant and Young Child Feeding and provision of equipments from the GAIN as well as the provincial government are expected to boost the implementation of the government’s nutrition program in the province.

Rhodora Maestre, regional nutrition program coordinator said the National Nutrition Council(NNC) will provide P830,000.00 funding assistance for the province to further improve and sustain its performance on the implementation of the nutrition program in the province thru training of barangay implementers on Infant and Yound Child Feeding - a strategy to revitalize world's attention and commitment to infant and young child nutrition and its impact on survival and development of children.

“We are glad to inform you that NNC was inspired by our best practices. In fact, we are the only province which was given with free Iodine checkers because of our performance in the BANTAY ASIN implementation” she said.

Maestre said the Nueva Vizcaya was recently adjudged as a regional 2012 Green Banner Awardee in Cagayan Valley for garnering 94.84 percent for its implementation of the nutrition program.

She also noted that the towns of Sta. Fe, Kasibu and Quezon also showed outstanding performance and lifted the province’s potentials as a green banner awardee.

The awarding of certificates of recognition and cash incentives among local government units and Barangay Nutrition Scholars(BNS) yesterday was also highlighted by the turn-over of two sets of WYD Iodine Checkers for the towns of Kayapa and Sta. Fe, two billboards and Infant and Young Child Feeding tarpaulins for BNS's offices.

The Iodine checkers given by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition(GIAN) will be used to check the proper and standard content of Iodine in commercial salt entering Cagayan Valley through the towns of Sta. Fe and Kayapa.

The two Asin Law billboards will also be put-up within the checkpoints of the two towns to warn salt transporters on the vigilance of government agencies and enforcement of Republic Act 8172 which prohibits the entry of non-iodized salt in the market.

Other Asin Law checkpoints were also established in the towns of Sta. Praxedes and Enrile in Cagayan province, Maestre said.

Governor Ruth Padilla also vowed to pour in at least P150,000.00 fund for the nutrition program of the province by providing P10,000.00 as yearly assistance for the 15 Municipal Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholars(MFBNS) which will be used for their livelihood programs designed to eradicate malnutrition in their respective communities.

Padilla also vowed to provide additional incentives for the BNS in the province to inspire them and sustain their efforts for the implementation of the nutrition program.

photo from left: Nueva Vizcaya Governor Ruth Padila, NPC Rhodora G. Maestre, Sta. Fe Mayor Ms. Liwayway Caramat, Congressman Carlos Padilla, Kayapa Mayor John Balasya, SP Quiben