On 7 December 2022, the National Nutrition Council IX (NNC9) successfully held the 2022 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (RNAC) of Zamboanga Peninsula at Sapphire Room, Grand Astoria Hotel, Zamboanga City. This prestigious event was spearheaded by the National Nutrition Council in collaboration with the Regional Nutrition and Anti-Hunger Committee (RNAHC). The ceremony was attended by no less than one hundred thirteen (113) participants which comprised of the local chief executives and their representatives, keynote and guest speakers, the awardees and contenders of the 2021 Green Banner Seal of Compliance, 2021 Regional Outstanding Nutrition Action Officer (RONAO), 2021 Outstanding City/Municipal Nutrition Program Coordinator (ROCMNPC), 2021 Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (ROBNS), Punong Barangays, Station Managers of the Nutriskwela Community Radio Stations, Officers of the Regional Federations, members of the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team, and the RNAHC members.
Since 1978, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) has been conferring awards to LGUs and BNSs to applaud their exemplary performance in implementing programs and improving the nutritional status of the people in their communities, particularly infants, children, and mothers. Annually, it has been a tradition of the NNC9 to conduct RNAC as a means to reciprocate the activity at the national level. This is to give due recognition to the Local Government Units (LGUs) and Local Nutrition Focal Points (LNFPs) like Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs), Local Nutrition Program Coordinators (LNPCs), and Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs) who stood out from the rest in Zamboanga Peninsula based on the evaluation and monitoring activities conducted by the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) using the MELLPI Pro tool as well as those who have been either awarded or evaluated as national contenders/awardees. This event also intends to inspire others and to express sincerest appreciation to LGUs, LNFPs, and other Nutrition Champions for their exemplary performance in prioritizing nutrition and for their innovative interventions in improving the nutrition situation of their constituents and their community as a whole.
The general flow of the activity included the entrance of Colors led by the Cadets of the Zamboanga State College of Marines Science and Technology, followed by the preliminaries. On behalf of OIC-Director IV Dr. Joshua G. Brillantes as the RNAHC Chair Department of Health CHD ZamPen, the welcome message was delivered by the Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator of DOH-CHD IX, Ms. Chrystal Jean I. Dela Cerna. Thereafter, participants were properly acknowledged by Nutrition Officer III, Mr. Elton N. Pelegrino. Guests were then serenaded by the powerful vocals of Mr. Henry M. Bibas. The Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator of NNC9, Ms. Nimfa Ekong then introduced the Guest and Keynote Speakers. The guest speaker was the Majority Floor Leader in the House of Representatives, Hon. Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, but since he also had an equally important event to attend, he was represented by his brother and the City Mayor of Zamboanga, Hon. John M. Dalipe. Thereafter, the video-recorded Keynote Message of the Assistant Secretary of Health and Executive Director IV of the National Nutrition Council, Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang, MD, MCH, CESO III was played and the awarding of the 2021 awardees followed with other parts of the program come after.
The activity was made remarkable with the Keynote Message coming from Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang where she commended the LGUs and LNFPs who took the challenge to advocate the nutritional well-being of their constituents, created a better community in their respective areas, and took the path towards sustainable nutritional actions. She also urged LGUs to hire qualified and competent nutrition staff who will oversee the nutrition interventions and ensure that these are done efficiently and effectively. She ended her message with the remarks, “I challenge, then the regions to continue producing more exemplars in nutrition. Today is the start of another journey. It is my great hope that these awards and recognition will inspire more LGUs and LNFPs to be Nutrition Champions who will implement and sustain our advocacy for increased investment in nutrition and high-impact multisectoral collaboration for nutrition”. Another, is the Inspirational Message from Hon. Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe where he recognized the concerted efforts of NNC and RNAHC in addressing the problem of malnutrition in the region and encouraged everyone with the message, “We have gone a long way in our ambitious goal to eradicate hunger. We have passed Republic Act 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act and Republic Act 11291 of the Magna Carta for the Poor during the Duterte Administration to ensure that the State will prioritize programs that will address poverty and malnutrition.”
The momentous event was highlighted with the announcement of winners and the giving of awards and recognition for the Green Banner Seal of Compliance, Regional Outstanding Nutrition Action Officer (RONAO), Regional Outstanding Local Nutrition Program Coordinator (ROCMNPC), Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (ROBNS), and other special awards. The awardees for the 2021 Green Banner Seal of Compliance is the City Governments of Dipolog and Dapitan. The following LNFPs were recognized for their outstanding performance in the nutrition program implementation and management, (a.) Ms. Jesielyn O. Puno, CNAO of Isabela City as 2021 RONAO, (b.) Ms. Mechelle S. Beberino, MNPC of Polanco, ZDN as 2021 ROCMNPC, and (c.) Ms. Jessica G. Pradel, BNS of Barangay Ayala, Zamboanga City as 2021 ROBNS. The finalists in the different caterogies were also given plaques and certificates of recognition.
Special awards were also given to the following LGUs, namely; (a.) Municipality of Polanco for the highest OPT coverage, (b.) Best Nutrition Specific Intervention to the City Government of Zamboanga, and the Municipalities of Payao ZS, and Pińan ZDN, (c.) Excellent Nutrition Sensitive intervention to the Municipality of Dinas ZDS, (d.) The Municipalities of Polanco ZDN and Diplahan ZS for the Most Innovative Nutrition Enabling Intervention, (e.) Province of Zamboanga Sibugay was for the Highest BNS Honorarium at the Provincial level, f.) Zamboanga City for the Highest BNS Honorarium at the city level, (g.) Municipality of Ipil for the Highest BNS Honorarium at the municipality level, (h.) Most Improved Nutritional Status for underweight, and wasting, were awarded to the Municipalities of Ramon Magsaysay ZDS and Sindangan ZDN, respectively, and (i.) Most Improved Nutritional Status for stunting and overweight were given to Isabela City.
Thereafter, the heart-warming and meaningful responses of the Mayors and City Nutrition Committee Chairs of Dipolog, Hon. Darel Dexter T. Uy, and of Dapitan, Hon. Seth Frederick P. Jalosjos as LGU recipients of the Green Banner Seal of Compliance were delivered by their respective representatives Dipolog City Councilor Hon. James Cyril L. Ruiz III and Dapitan City Councilor Hon. Divine G. Patilano, while the rest of the 2021 Nutrition Awardees personally delivered their message where they expressed how grateful and more driven they are to continue what they have started with the receipt of the honorable recognitions conferred to them. Afterward, the Induction of the Regional Federation Officers for Nutrition Action Officers, Nutrition Program Coordinators, and Barangay Nutrition Scholars was led by RNPC Ms. Nimfa Ekong. The station managers of the Nutriskwela Community Radio Stations were also recognized for their continued support to nutrition improvement by broadcasting nutrition and community development programs. The members of the Regional Nutrition Anti-Hunger Committee RNAHC) were also given recognition as well as the members of the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) who participated in the 2022 MELLPI Pro activities.
The red carpet occasion was ended with the Closing Message given by the Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator of NNC9, Ms. Nimfa D. Ekong where she is deeply grateful for the support extended by the nutrition partners in the conduct of the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Local Level Plan Implementation in the region. Likewise, she ensured that NNC9 commits and will continue to provide technical assistance to Local Government Units as well as the nutrition implementers and nutrition advocates for the nutrition improvement in their respective locality.
The Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony is undoubtedly a good avenue to inspire more LGUs and LNFPs to become Nutrition Champions in the succeeding years…by formulating well-funded output-driven Local Nutrition Action Plans, implementing nutrition interventions with focus on the most vulnerable groups, managing a more functional local nutrition committee, maintaining a whole-of-community advocacy for increased nutrition investment and high-impact multi-sectoral collaboration for nutrition. The National Nutrition Council together with the members of RNAHC will forever be committed to continuing and expanding efforts to provide whatever necessary assistance needed by the LGUs and LNFPs in the improvement of the nutrition situation in their respective locality with emphasis on inclusive economic growth and development in the entire region of Zamboanga Peninsula and in the country.
For more info and photos on the event, visit https://www.facebook.com/nnczampen
#NutrisyongSapatParaSaLahat
ZDS DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
