In the past years, the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony serves as the culminating event of the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) and Nutrition Month Celebration. MELLPI is the monitoring and evaluation strategy of the NNC conducted by an inter-agency regional nutrition evaluation team to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition or the PPAN by the local government unit.

However, in view of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, conduct of MELLPI for this year was cancelled and nutrition month activities shifted to digital campaign.

To keep the tradition alive while keeping up with the “new normal”, the National Nutrition Council – NCR held its first virtual Regional Nutrition Month Awarding Ceremony last July 30, 2020 via Zoom. The awarding ceremony served as the culminating activity of the 46th Nutrition Month with the theme, “Batang Pinoy, SANA TALL… Iwas stunting, SAMA ALL! Iwas ALL din sa COVID-19!”.

In her message, NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa Federizo thanked everyone who supported and participated in the nutrition month celebration. She thanked the members of the regional nutrition committee, local government units and other stakeholders for conducting various activities to promote stunting prevention.

During the ceremony, winners in the regional nutrition month contests were awarded their certificate of recognition:

#SanaTall BNS Diaries Vlog Contest

Grand Prize Winner: BNS ANGEL ANNE S. AMBAS (Barangay Bayanan, Muntinlupa City)
First Runner-Up: BNS ALICE A. TANABE (Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa City)
Second Runner-Up: BNS EMILY N. UMALI (Barangay San Martin De Porres, Parańaque City)

#SanaTall Photo Essay Contest

Grand Prize Winner MS. GIANNE KARLA Y. REALIZO, “First 1K para sa K (Kinabukasan) Days”
First Runner-Up: MS. SAMANTHA C. RAMOS, “Daloy”
Second Runner-Up: MS. MELANIE C. PEDREGOSA, “Preemie Baby, Pwedeng TALL, Kasama sa ALL!”

2020 NCR Regional Webby Awards

Best Local Nutrition Committee Social Media Account

Grand Prize Winner: PASIG CITY NUTRITION COMMITTEE
First Runner – Up: MALABON CITY NUTRITION COMMITTEE
Second Runner – Up: MANDALUYONG CITY NUTRITION COMMITTEE

In her response, BNS Ambas commits to intensify the promotion of good nutrition in her barangay especially the First 1000 Days to prevent stunting. Her dedication to her job as a barangay nutrition scholar made her realize that she is working not just to earn money for her family but also to provide opportunity to the children in her barangay to grow up healthy.

#SanaTall Photo Essay Grand Champion Ms. Realizo promises to encourage mothers and soon-to-be mommies to be healthy during pregnancy and to provide good nutrition during the First 1000 Days. She also promised to support the NNC-NCR’s digital campaign on nutrition via social media.

“In this time of pandemic, where most of us are working from home, the use of social media platform proves to be a very effective and powerful tool in reaching out to a wider segment of our society,” Pasig City Nutrition Action Officer Ms. Marissa Almario said in her response. She added, “Rest assured that our team will continue to provide helpful health and nutrition information through our social media page.”

Even if the Nutrition Month has ended, RNPC Federizo calls for the continuous promotion of good nutrition especially the First 1000 Days. She also encouraged the local government units to prioritize the First 1000 Days Program in their local nutrition action plans as an effective strategy for stunting prevention. (TAR/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)