21 June 2019, Cagayan de Oro City – The National Nutrition Council (NNC) conducted an advance agency-wide celebration of its milestone 45th anniversary held on 17-20 June 2019 at Caliraya Resort Club, Lumban, Laguna. Presidential Decree No. 491 or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines was signed on June 25, 2019 declaring nutrition as priority of the government and created the NNC.
Approximately 200 NNC regular and job order employees gathered, led by head of agency, OIC-Executive Director III Dr. Azucena “Apet” M. Dayanghirang. Likewise, all NNC X staff attended the celebration.
Activities were lined up for the 4-day celebration, which started with a Thanksgiving Mass and briefing of the activities. All staff were ferried to the Caliraya Resort Club where a luau party by the lake ensued for the 45th NNC Anniversary Program in the evening. The staff of Central and Regional Offices matched outfits with the luau theme, wearing floral polo shirts and dresses with leis and hats.
One of the highlights of the program was the recognition of nine (9) CO and RO employees who served the agency for 15, 25 and 30 years. The awards were presented by OIC-ED Dayanghirang and AD Chief Chona M. Fernandez. In response to the recognition, select awardees shared their years of journey with NNC and expressed their gratitude.
A back-to-back capability building sessions were conducted on June 18: 2nd Management Conference for the NNC management, technical updates for all technical staff, and financial reporting and liquidation, procurement and general services and records keeping for all support staff. In the afternoon, NNC Employees’ General Assembly was conducted and anchored by NNCEA President Regie Guillen. Data Privacy Act of 2012 was discussed by National Privacy Commission ITO II Cleo R. Martinez, and Nutrition and Gender Sensitivity was presented by NPPD NO Julze Cesar P. Alejandre.
The following day was dedicated for the Team Building Activities which involved outdoor and indoor games facilitated by the Caliraya Team Building Trainor-Facilitators. All staff were grouped into eight (8) teams with unique composition of members in every game. In the afternoon, the winning team was awarded, followed by photo opportunity per division and regional office with OIC-ED Dayanghirang. After which, NNC staff were given the time to enjoy Caliraya’s amenities.
On the last day, NNC visited the Province of Rizal for Cultural and Learning Visits. The group was welcomed by Vice Governor Junrey San Juan at Ynares Center where NNC had lunch while watching cultural presentation. Among the sites visited were the Pililla Wind Farm in Tanay, Our Lady of Safe Voyage Cathedral and Hinulugang Taktak Falls in Antipolo, and Taytay Tiangge in Taytay.
The week was filled with reflections, learnings, happiness, new acquaintances and takeaways that the agency will grasp as inspiration in serving the Filipino people through delivery of quality nutrition service. (NO II Sheena Marie G. Talle)