October 30, 2014- Koronadal City- The National Nutrition Council Region XII holds the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (RNAC) last October 29, 2014 at the Convention Center, The Farm @ Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City. There were over 270 guests composed of Local Chief Executives and representatives, Provincial/Municipal and City Nutrition Action Officers, City/District Nutrition Program Coordinators, Regional Directors from the Different Line Agencies, Regional Nutrition Committee Members, Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team, Chairpersons and Members of the Local Nutrition Committees, Representatives from the Academe (USM & SCC), Barangay Nutrition Scholars, ICON members, Media Partners, various Nutrition Stakeholders, Awardees and Winners of various regional activities. The said annual event was organized to recognize the individuals, LGU’s and other partners who gave their best in delivering health and nutrition-related services in their respective areas/communities.
The event was graced by the Governor of South Cotabato, Hon. Daisy Avance-Fuentes as the keynote speaker. She challenged the LGU’s to make a paradigm of a well-planned nutrition program and think one or more of innovative ways in helping the community to become healthy and well nourished. City Councilor Oscar Pagunsan of Koronadal City was also present in behalf of the City Mayor Peter B. Miguel, who gave praises to the popular version of the revised nutritional guidelines for Filipinos – the ten Kumainments. He imposed its importance to Filipino’s healthy lifestyle. Meanwhile, Regional Director of the Department of Health RO XII, Dr. Teogenes F. Baluma inspired the audience and emphasized unity, solidarity and camaraderie among LGUs, community and family to solve the malnutrition problem.
In this annual event, not only outstanding implementers of nutrition program were recognized but also other stakeholders and regional line agencies who participated during the Nutrition Month culmination activities and various contests/activities initiated by NNC XII. The longest serving BNS who rendered its services for more than 30 years was also recognized.
For the second time around, the municipality of Malungon and the Province of South Cotabato bagged the Regional Green Banner Award, as the regional outstanding municipality and province in the region respectively. NNC XII also gave special citation to the Barangay Nutrition Committee of Barangay Dumadalig, Tantangan, South Cotabato, as the 2013 Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Committee in the region.
Meanwhile, BNS Junelia E. Domel of Barangay New Iloilo, Tantangan, South Cotabato was awarded as the 2013 Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar. She received a trophy (from central office), plaque of recognition and cash award amounting of 20,000.00. It was also mentioned that Ms. Domel is one of the finalist of the Search for National Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar and she received certificate of merit and a cash award in the amount of P15,000.00 during the National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony held last October 21, 2014 at PICC in Manila. Likewise, declared by the RNET, Ms. Cristy Cepeda of Barangay Kimarayag, Pigcawayan, Cotabato and Ms Levita Medrano of Barangay Balabag, Kidapawan City as the 1st and 2nd runners up OBNS in the region respectively. They received a certificate of recognition, cash award and token.
According to Ms. Junelia E. Domel, 2014 Outstanding BNS in the Region, Perseverance + Faith in God + Hard Work + Passion is the best formula to be a successful BNS. Ms. Domel once quoted in her speech “to be a good BNS, one must have a commitment and mission towards work, work without thinking of any rewards, but work because it is what the Lord wants you to do and be blessed with that opportunity”. Ms. Domel ended her speech defining BNSs as SUPER which means Selfless, Understanding, Patient, Educated and Responsible.
Likewise, the Hon. Mayor Reynaldo T. Constantino of Malungon, Sarangani in his response, expressed his deepest gratitude and honored that his municipality was recognized as the Outstanding Municipality in the Region. He quoted that “to raise a child we need to build a village”, hence, pointing malnutrition as a multifaceted problem that needs to be solved with unified ideas and interventions to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. Thus, he challenged everyone to work hand in hand and be involved with the health and nutrition programs in their respective locality.
Furthermore, this year’s winners and participants for the region’s various initiated contests such as: Best Gulayan sa Opisina and Best Gulayan sa Barangay were also present to receive prizes in the form of tokens and certificate of recognition and participation. For the Best Gulayan Sa Opisina Project, the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) were declared as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placer respectively. For the “Gulayan sa Barangay”, contest, Barangay San Isidro of Midsayap, Cotabato, Barangay Sagasa of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat and Barangay New Iloilo of Tantangan, South Cotabato received their token and certificate of recognition as 1st 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
NNC also recognized deserving stakeholders and partners such as the Yellow Bus Line, Holiday Bus and Husky Tours for their effort of designating seats for breastfeeding mothers in compliance to RDC XII Resolution requesting bus companies to designate seats for BF mothers inside their buses in support and as advocates of RA 10028 of known as the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009.
NPC Arceli M. Latonio thanked the guests and all those who attended the event for their extreme support to the Nutrition Program and expressed her warmest congratulations to all the awardees/winners for their exemplary performance in implementing innovative nutrition interventions, thus helped to improve the nutrition situation of the region.
