BUTUAN CITY- National Nutrition Council Assistant Secretary and Executive Director, Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang served as the keynote speaker and challenged the region in producing more local nutrition focal points and local government units as nutrition champions and awardees of nutrition during her speech at the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (RNAC) on 29 November 2022 at LMX Convention Center, Butuan City.

This year the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) recommended 11 LGUs as Green Banner Seal of Compliance Awardees and 16 local nutrition focal points, 6 of which are outstanding BNSs contenders who were recognized during the Ceremony.

The LGUs and LNFPs have shown excellent performance in managing and implementing their respective nutrition programs as reflected during the monitoring and evaluation of local level plan implementation (MELLPI).

ASec Dayanghirang relayed that the awards are manifestation of the leadership and commitments of the local chief executives to invest, and to prioritize nutrition; the commitment and coordination of the members of the local nutrition committees from the provinces, the cities, the municipalities, and the barangays; and the persistent attention and unwavering action of the Nutrition Office staff, and the Barangay Nutrition Scholars.

It can be noted that since the revival of MELLPI in 1997, Caraga has had one (1) Nutrition Honor Awardee, seven (7) Consistent Regional Outstanding Winners in Nutrition and three (3) outstanding barangay nutrition scholars.

With the second-year implementation of the MELLPI Pro, Caraga produced two national contenders. Mr. Reyveen John Geli of Tandag City, Surigao del Sur is one of this year contenders for the outstanding city/municipal nutrition action officer while Ms. Pinky A. Casamayor of Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur is a contender for the outstanding district/city nutrition program coordinator.

Along with the finalization of the new Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2023-2028, Asec Dayanghirang calls upon local chief executives, barangay officials, nutrition partners, and stakeholders to be steadfast and eager in setting priority and targets in nutrition especially with the devolution of functions of the national government to the local government units through the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court Ruling. #NASLabordo