DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 10 (PIA) -- Dumaguete City and its three barangays have been recognized on Aug. 6 by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region 7 for implementing nutrition programs to address malnutrition.

Barangays Balugo, Tabuc-tubig, and Cantil-e were also awarded for their performance in nutrition programs that improved their nutritional status.

NNC-7 used a Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) tool in selecting this year’s winners.

It was noted that LGUs should be efficient and effective in implementing their Plan of Action for Nutrition in addressing nutrition problems such as malnutrition, stunting, and obesity.

Under the MELLPI Pro Tool,Dumaguete along with three barangays were judged for their strengths in five scopes, namely: vision and mission; nutrition laws and policies; governance and organizational structure; local nutrition committee management; and nutrition intervention services.

City Nutrition Action Officer Lourdes Taburaza thanked the administration of Mayor Felipe Antonion Remollo for their strong and consistent support to the nutrition programs and activities that significantly helped in reducing the malnutrition rates among the city’s 15,000 pre-schoolers (children aged 0-6 years old).

Taburaza said the malnutrition rate among pre-schoolers has dropped from 1.9% in 2019 to 1.7% in 2020; underweight or stunting from 3.4% to 2.4%; wasting from 1.3% to 0.7%; and obesity from 2.7% to 2.4%.

The Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team has considered the best practices, significant funding allocations, and consistent implementation of the various nutrition programs and activities in all 30 barangays when it decided to confer the distinctions and awards to the Dumaguete City Nutrition Committee and the local nutrition committees of barangays Balugo, Tabuc-Tubig, and Cantil-e.

Remollo together with Balugo Brgy. Capt. Glenn Noay, Cantil-e Brgy. Capt. Pilardo Sarte, and Tabuc-Tubig Brgy. Capt. Randy Fausto have been invited to participate in the virtual 2021 Grand Nutrition Awards so they will be officially recognized as this year’s outstanding performers.

The city government has made it a priority to implement nutrition programs that will provide better access and education for children to obtain nutritious food, vitamins, and healthy habits for improved school performance, prevent diseases, and deaths.

The mayor also lauded the Barangay Nutrition Scholars led by Taburaza and the barangay officials for their dedication to address cases of malnutrition in their communities. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from CPIO)