Naga City- About 300 participants comprised of local chief executives, members of the local nutrition committee, nutrition action officers, district and city nutrition program coordinators, Regional Nutrition Committee members and RTWG, Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) members, barangay nutrition scholars, media partners and invited guests gathered to witness and participate in the 2015 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony held on 20 November 2015 at Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City. This annual prestigious event of the NNC Bicol gives due recognition to local government units in the region that have shown outstanding performance in managing their local nutrition program. Likewise, in this event, NNC honors the outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholars who have done commendable performance in their barangays by doing ordinary things extraordinarily.
From the results of the conduct of the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) from March to August 2015 through the combined efforts of the RNET, the following distinctions and recognitions were laid:
2014 Top Performing Barangays on Nutrition
| v Brgy. Quitago, Guinobatan, Albay | v Brgy. Maporong, Oas, Albay |
| v Brgy. Gubat, Daet, Camarines Norte | v Brgy. Buyo, Virac, Catanduanes |
| v Brgy. Magnesia del Norte, Virac, Catanduanes | v Brgy. Valencia, Virac, Catanduanes |
| v Brgy. Badling, Uson, Masbate | v Brgy. Buenavista, Uson, Masbate |
| v Brgy. Panicijan, Uson, Masbate | v Brgy. Central, Bulusan, Sorsogon |
| v Brgy. Looban, Bulusan, Sorsogon | v Brgy. Sabang, Bulusan, Sorsogon |
| v Brgy. Sapñgan, Bulusan, Sorsogon | v Brgy. Timbayog, Casiguran, Sorsogon |
| v Brgy. I (Poblacion), Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon | v Brgy. Bagsangan, Irosin, Sorsogon |
| v Brgy. San Agustin, Iriga City | v Brgy. Sto. Domingo, Iriga City |
| v Brgy. Panicuason, Naga City | v Brgy. San Isidro, Naga City |
| v Brgy. San Pascual, Sorsogon City | v Brgy. Bongabong, Tabaco City |
| v Brgy. Bacolod, Tabaco City |
These 23 outstanding barangays out of the 100 barangays from six provinces, 21 municipalities and 7 cities visited were identified by the RNET after receiving an average score of at least 95 percent during the nutrition evaluation. They received a certificate of recognition and a token of an 18-inch industrial fan to be used in their nutrition center.
Out of the 107 municipalities in Bicol, eight municipalities had the lowest prevalence of malnutrition in the region which was less than 10 percent based on Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus with at least 85% and not more than 110% OPT coverage for calendar year 2014. These municipalities awarded with a certificate of recognition and a token too of an 18-inch industrial fan are the following:
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The 2014 top performing province was conferred to the Province of Sorsogon. Sorsogon topped all the 6 provinces while Tabaco City ranked first followed by Legazpi City in the category of top performing city on nutrition. These local government units each received a plaque of recognition for their efficient and effective implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) in 2014.
Three municipalities were proclaimed to have exceptional performance and received the Provincial Green Banner Award or as Outstanding Municipality in the Province, namely Tiwi in the province of Albay, Baleno in Masbate Province and Bulusan in the province of Sorsogon. Their final average score from the evaluation done at the provincial level were at least 85 percent. The Municipality of Bulusan also received the Regional Green Banner Award or as Outstanding Municipality in the Region among the municipalities evaluated by the RNET.
Finally, for sustained efficient and effective implementation of nutrition program, Naga City once again received a plaque of recognition or merit award to recognize its sustained effort along nutrition program management. Naga City was a recipient of the Nutrition Honor Award in 1998, the highest award given by NNC to areas with consistent performance as CROWN awardees for another 3 consecutive years. RNET members annually monitor the city of Naga to determine if it is able to sustain its high performance on nutrition.
NNC also gave recognition to the exemplary performance of Barangay Nutrition Scholars. The BNS Program is a strategy under the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition that involves training, deployment and supervision of volunteer workers or barangay nutrition scholars. By virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1569, every barangay in the country is mandated to deploy one BNS who is responsible for monitoring the nutritional status of the vulnerable and for delivering nutrition services and other related activities.
Ten provincial and city outstanding BNS vied for the 2014 Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar which was conferred to Ms. Syra P. Lagatic of Brgy. San Agustin, Iriga City. She received a cash prize of P20,000.00 and a trophy. BNS Ma. Cleofe S. Panti of Brgy.Valencia, Virac, Catanduanes and BNS Jocelyn B. Buena of Brgy.Panicuason, Naga City were hailed as 2nd and 1st runners-up, respectively and each received a plaque of recognition and cash incentives from NNC. Other contenders for the search for the regional outstanding BNS are the following who received a certificate of recognition and a cash incentive of P4,000.00 as Provincial OBNS and P3,000.00 as City OBNS:
- BNS Teresita A. Apuli – Brgy. Bigaa, Legazpi City
- Minerva F. Chavez – Brgy. San Pascual, Sorsogon City
- Audrey B. Pelantic – Brgy. Culliat, Ligao City
- Marsha B. Bondoy – Brgy. Visita (San Miguel Island), Tabaco City
- Joan B. Galit – Brgy. Gabao, Irosin, Sorsogon
- Maria P. Lavapie – Brgy. Magang, Daet, Camarines Norte
Two BNSs who were not able to receive their award during the 2015 BNS National Conference at Pasig City held last April 2015 were also given recognition for their dedicated service as BNS in their barangay during the awarding ceremony. BNS Estrella P. Nagera and Norma D. Aragon, both from Basud, Camarines Norte have been rendering extraordinary service for more than 30 years up to present.Both of them received a cash award and service award certificate signed by the Executive Director IV of NNC, Maria-Bernardita T. Flores.
A special recognition was also given to Ms. Catalina M. Austria, formerly the provincial nutritionist and district nutrition program coordinator of Camarines Sur. Ms. Austria rendered 22 years of invaluable service and dedication before retiring from service. She is a seasoned trainer on nutrition program management and an instrument in catalyzing nutrition program of the province ensuring that nutrition became a priority of the municipalities.
All awardees deserved an accolade but this will remind them that winning the battle against malnutrition is not attainable without the concerted efforts not only of a single individual but of all the members of the committee, be it from provincial, city, municipal and even in the barangay level.
“It is apparent that there are still a lot for us to do to be able to drastically bring down levels of underweight, wasting, stunting and overweight and obesity in our country. And you have a big role in this. Some of us here may not be awardees but we should all work towards the goal of conquering malnutrition. Let’s focus on the First 1000 Days of life. Let’s build a better generation after us for after all this will be our legacy to our children. Let us give each child a better future. Let us not fail our children who place their trust in us.” says Dr. Emilia P. Monicimpo, RNC Chair, in her message.
The real fruit of investment is not measured by recognition or by incentives received but the good result efficiently attained from the targeted goals and objectives. NNC congratulates all awardees for these years awarding ceremony.
MJA/ARR/NNCBicol
