8 November 2016 – The National Nutrition Council MIMAROPA held the annual Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony at The Heritage Hotel Manila to honor the nutrition champions in the region. The awardees were evaluated through the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) done earlier this year by the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET). Local Government Units (LGUs), Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAOs), and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) were given recognition for their active implementation of nutrition programs to help eradicate malnutrition in the region.
The awarding ceremony was graced by a total of 105 guests which include seven (7) Local Chief Executives (LCEs), namely Honorable Governor Mario Gene J. Mendiola of Occidental Mindoro and Honorable Governor Carmencita O. Reyes of Marinduque; Honorable Mayor Violeta L. Dimapilis of Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, Honorable Mayor Eduardo B. Gadiano of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, Honorable Mayor Arnan C. Panaligan of Calapan City, Honorable Mayor Roberto M. Sanchez of Lubang, Occidental Mindoro and Honorable Vice-Mayor Sheryl B. Morales of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. Also in attendance were Regional Director of the Department of Health IV-B (DOH) and Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) Chair Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo; Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) members; Provincial/City Nutrition Action Officers (P/CNAOs); District/City Nutrition Program Coordinators (D/CNPCs); officers of the media group, PROMO Nutri Com (Palawan, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Occidental Mindoro Nutrition Communicators); BNS Federation of Region IV-B; and this year’s awardees.
Special citation was given to leading nutrition supporters in the region for their invaluable contribution as advocates of nutrition in the region. The following were the acknowledged nutrition champions:
- Department of Social Welfare and Development – MIMAROPA
- Department of Health – MIMAROPA
- Ms. Minda Tuburan, former Vice-Chair of the RNET
Special awards, Green Banner awards, Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Committee and Barangay Nutrition Scholar, and Outstanding MNAO were some of the awards given at the ceremony. The major awards are as follows:
- Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Committee – Barangay Paetan, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro
- Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar – Ms. Mary Karen V. Dueñas of Barangay Bagong Sikat, Lubang, Occidental Mindoro
- Outstanding Municipal Nutrition Action Officer – Ms. Jeanette Juanita Z. Motol of Gasan, Marinduque and Dr. Leonor N. Daite of Roxas, Oriental Mindoro
- Green Banner Award – Outstanding Municipality in the Province and Region – Roxas, Oriental Mindoro
- Green Banner Award – Outstanding Province in the Region – Marinduque Province
- Best Performing City in the Region – Calapan City
- Most Promising LGU in the Region – Romblon Province
- LGUs with Lowest Malnutrition Prevalence – Marinduque Province, Calapan City, and Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
All awardees were given plaques of recognition, while Green Banners were given to outstanding LGUs, and Outstanding BNSs were also given cash prizes. One of the highlights of the ceremony was the short speech given by the major awardees as a response to the awards they received.
The ceremony was culminated by a keynote address by Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo, Regional Director of the Department of Health – MIMAROPA and the Chair of the Regional Nutrition Committee, emphasizing the vital role of health and nutrition in the development of the country.
