BASCO, Batanes, Oct 23 (PIA) -- The governor announced here yesterday that Batanes won the 2012 Nutrition Honor Award (NHA), the highest award in the implementation of the nutrition program.

Governor Vicente S. Gato said, as per communication he received from Assistant Secretary Bernardita T. Flores, career executive service officer II and executive director-IV of the National Nutrition Council, Batanes won the 2012 NHA after it has been a consistent regional outstanding winner in nutrition awardee for three consecutive years, 2006-2009, as per evaluation of the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team.

In 2010, Batanes won the maintenance award. In 2011, it grabbed the Honor Award, which was bestowed by the National Nutrition Team (NNET).

Flores, who heads the team, evaluated at random in two days, two municipalities (Ivana and Uyugan), and two barangays of these municipalities last June.

The major criteria of the evaluation were: nutrition program efficiency, through the support of local government units, provincial action nutrition action, barangay nutrition scholars; program effectiveness, reflected by nutrition status of children and if children are taught to practice healthy lifestyles.

Priscilla Nanud, chief of the Provincial Agriculturist Office, said the awarding of NHA in Malaca?ang will be on November 9. Nanud added that winners of the highest nutrition award, the NHA, may compete in the following year but has to start from zero like other contenders.

Gato congratulated all the members of the provincial nutrition council, and thanked the support of barangay nutrition scholars and barangay health workers for their cooperative efforts in nutrition programs. (NGA-PIA 2, Batanes)
PHOTO: The Provincial Nutrition Committee members and PNC Chair, Honorable Vicente Gato