Cebu City – The outstanding cities and municipalities in Region VII were also honoured during 8th Regional NAO Congress and 2012 Grand Nutrition Awards held on 03 August 2012 at the City Sports Club Cebu.

Winning its Green Banner for the 1st time as the Outstanding Municipality in the Province of Negros Oriental, the Municipality of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental was recognized for its functional Municipal Nutrition Committee and Barangay Nutrition Committees which was the driving force in malnutrition reduction in the municipality. Also given recognition were MNPC, Ms. Maria Phoebe J. Elnasan and MNAO Dr. Della A. Futalan.

Also winning its 2nd year Green Banner Award and being the Outstanding Municipality in the Region, the Municipality of Jagna, Bohol was recognized for “Promoting food availability for nutrition security” which reduces the prevalence of undernutrition of the town from 4.16% in 2010 to 3.87% in 2011. The NutriMix production, Gulayan sa BNC, MNC Garden, Malunggay powder production and Manna Pack Daily Feeding program ensures food availability among the people of Jagna. Also recognized were MNPC, Ms. Elizabeth S. Fazulga and MNAO Ms. Anecita G. Ocmeja.

Successfully gaining its 3rd year Green Banner and awarded as Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) nominee, the City of Toledo was acclaimed for “Empowering communities toward food security and a sustainable environment”, that improved the nutrition situation of preschool children to 1.73% in 2011 from 2.09% in 2010. Their projects that contributed this feat were Green Grow Toledo, food production, ecological balance and a healthy lifestyle which are implemented in schools and communities. Schools are also designated as Nutrition Centers, where gardening, tree planting and proper solid waste management are given priority and plantations of fruit-bearing and forest trees are realised in rural communities. Also recognized were CNPC Ms. Belinda C. Cavan and CNAO Dr. Tiburcio D. Dacalos Jr.
Tubigon, Bohol was also recognized as the 2nd year Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition Maintenance Nominee. Meanwhile, Calape, Inabanga and Talibon of Bohol province and the City of Danao of Cebu province were also acknowledged Nutrition Honor Maintenance Awardees.

All these Local Government Units were recognized for their exemplary performance that contributed to the improvement of the nutrition situation in their respective localities. // DFB