29 November 2018, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — THE best local government units and nutrition workers in Northern Mindanao were awarded for their exemplary performance in nutrition program management and delivery of nutrition services during the 2018 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony last November 27, 2018 at Cove Garden Resort, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City.
More than 250 VIPs, awardees and guests from all over Northern Mindanao participated in this year’s recognition rites.
The awards that were given are based from the findings and results from the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) conducted by the National Nutrition Council (NNC)-Region 10. The MELLPI aims to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of local government units in planning and implementing local nutrition programs.
One of the recognitions given was the Green Banner Award. This award is given to a municipality, city or province which has shown very satisfactory performance in implementing its nutrition program, besting other local government units monitored in their level. This year’s recipients of the Regional Green Banner Award were: Misamis Occidental (provincial level), Cagayan de Oro City (city level), and Tudela, Misamis Occidental (municipal level). The NNC also recognized the outstanding municipalities in their respective provinces. The municipalities that received the Provincial Green Banner Award were Guinsiliban of Camiguin Province, Maramag of Bukidnon and Tudela of Misamis Occidental.
The NNC X likewise granted the Barangay Green Banner Award to barangays with exemplary performance in nutrition, with 36 barangays receiving the award last November 27.
The areas conferred with the Green Banner for three consecutive years are endorsed for the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) Award. This year, Misamis Occidental Province claimed its third Regional Green Banner Award, achieving the CROWN Award. The Province received their award during the National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony last July 31, 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City together with Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon as First Year CROWN Maintenance Awardee and Gingoog City as the Second Year CROWN Maintenance Awardee.
In conjunction with the MELLPI, the NNC also evaluates the performance of the Barangay Nutrition Scholars, the barangay-based volunteers tasked to coordinate the delivery of basic nutrition and related services in their respective area of assignments.
BNS Alberto O. Jacosalem of Bagontaas, Valencia City, Bukidnon was declared as the Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (ROBNS), besting other 2,000 BNSs in Northern Mindanao.
Apart from the awarding ceremony, the NNC X also launched the Regional Plan of Action (RPAN) 2019-2022. It serves as a roadmap to address and improve the nutritional status of the region. The RPAN 2019-2022 consists of the programs and activities of the different stakeholders which include the local government units, the different government and non-government agencies working together for the welfare and development of the region.
Consistent with the Philippine Plan of Action on Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022, the RPAN has 11 programs which translate into 41 projects. The programs comprise of nine (9) nutrition-specific programs, one (1) nutrition-sensitive program, and one (1) enabling program.
The RPAN provides the necessary focus on the First 1,000 Days program, given its huge potential in addressing the major nutritional issues in Northern Mindanao and in the country. All 11 programs constitute the RPAN with an additional program to address the huge challenge of adolescent health, and in particular, adolescent pregnancy in the region and in the country. (SunStar CDO)