15 September 2014- Koronadal City, Philippines. As bound in the 2013-2016 Regional Nutrition Committee Strategic Plan: “The RNC XII shall promote household food security through home, school and community food production and provision of material support for livelihood and income generating projects”, the RNC XII had strategized innovative measures to promote food security.

Through the support and initiative of the RNC XII in promoting food security as well as to have safe and nutritious sources of vegetables, the Search for the Best Gulayan sa Opisina and Best Gulayan sa Barangay is on its 2nd year.

Last July 2014, the RNC XII launched its second phase of the aforementioned contests along with the celebration of the Nutrition Month. NPC Arceli M. Latonio, of the NNC XII promoted the said search. As of September 15, 2014, the NNC XII has already evaluated four (4) regional offices BJMP XII, DepEd XII, DOLE XII and NEDA XII respectively. There are two more offices: DOH XII and DBM XII to be evaluated.

Furthermore, the Search for the Best Gulayan sa Barangay is still on-going. As specified in the criteria, there shall be one entry per province/ city. The committee finished evaluating nominated barangays of Tacurong City and General Santos City. Entries from the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Cotabato and from cities of Kidapawan and Koronadal will be evaluated soon.

The winners of these contests will be recognized during the 2014 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony on October 29, 2014.