“Champions never quit”, as exemplified by the Municipality of Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Mabalacat City and Province of Bataan - three (3) local government units that were recognized as green banner awardees in three different categories during the 2018 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony on 5 December 2018 at the Orchidarium, The Orchid Gardens, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
The Province of Bataan, among the five (5) contender-provinces, emerged as the 2017 Outstanding Province in the Region; Mabalacat City, although a very young city, beat the 12 other cities in Central Luzon and remain the 2017 Outstanding City in the Region; and the Municipality of Talavera, Nueva Ecija, one of the 116 municipalities in the region, defended its title as the 2017 Outstanding Municipality in the Region.
These LGUs remain CHAMPIONS in the true sense of the word because of dedication, determination and persistence in the implementation of nutrition programs in their respective localities. Indeed, they never quit.
In their third year as green banner awardees, Mabalacat City and the Municipality of Talavera in Nueva Ecija, also received their respective national level award as Consistent Regional Outstanding Winners in Nutrition or CROWN Awards on 31 July 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City. Mayor Nerivi Martinez of Talavera, Nueva Ecija and Mayor Crisostomo Garbo of Mabalacat City, received the cash award of Php500,000.00 for their respective local nutrition committees, along with their CROWN trophies. The CROWN trophy was designed with flames of increasing intensity that symbolizes the ever-increasing desire of the LGU to win the war against malnutrition.
In the category of Outstanding Municipality in the Region, the following municipalities were recognized - Calumpit, Bulacan (1st Runner-up), Lubao, Pampanga (2nd Runner-up), Morong, Bataan (3rd Runner-Up) and Candelaria, Zambales (4th Runner-up). These LGUs got 90% rating each and received Certificates of Recognition.
On the other hand, seven (7) municipalities also received their Green Banner awards as the 2017 Outstanding Municipality in their respective provinces: Dilasag of Aurora Province; Bagac of Bataan Province; Calumpit of Bulacan Province; Talavera of Nueva Ecija Province; Lubao of Pampanga Province; Anao of Tarlac Province and Candelaria of Zambales Province.
Eighteen (18) barangays were also recognized as the 2017 Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Committees in the Region. These are (in alphabetical order): Barangay Cupang West (Balanga City); Barangay Pagas (Cabanatuan City); Barangay Calumpang and Barangay Sta. Maria (Mabalacat City); Barangay Caniogan (Malolos City); Barangay Palestina (San Jose City); Barangay Francisco Homes-Guijo (San Jose Del Monte City); Bataan: Barangay Nagbalayong (Morong); Barangay Gugo (Samal); Bulacan: Barangay Balite, Barangay Iba Este and Barangay Sergio Bayan (Calumpit); Nueva Ecija: Barangay BugtongnaBuli (Talavera); Pampanga: Barangay Sto. Cristo, Barangay San Fancisco, Barangay Sto.Domingo and Barangay Sta. Tereza 1st (Lubao); and Tarlac: Barangay San Juan (Anao). The respective Barangay Captains and BNSs of the above mentioned barangays also received their certificates of recognition.
An outstanding barangay nutrition committee is recognized for meeting the most number of criteria in the functionality checklist of the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2015-19 dated February 26, 2016 on Accomplishment and Submission of the Checklist on the Functionality of the Province/City/Municipal Nutrition Committees and those that received the rating of 98 percent (see more stories and photos in NNC-R3 facebook page).
Author:
Angelita M. Pasos
Nutrition Officer III, NNC-Region III
27 December 2018
