BAGUIO CITY (PIA)- -The Cordillera Regional Nutrition Committee headed by the regional offices of the Department of Health and the National Nutrition Council recognized  the outstanding local government units and local nutrition focal persons for fiscal year 2021 during the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (RNAC) at the Orchard Hotel here last October 25.

Leading the awardees  are Cristal Gail Dacio from   Kalinga as the Regional Outstanding District Nutrition Program Coordinator; Jimmy Taguilingon of Asipulo, Ifugao as the Regional Outstanding Municipal Nutrition Action Officer, and Ayleen Luis of Barangay Daclan, Tublay Benguet as the Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar.

For the Green Banner Seal of Compliance awards for LGUs, awardees   are the Province of Kalinga and the municipalities of Asipulo and Hungduan of Ifugao.

Recipients of the  Cordillera RNAC Special Awards are the Municipality of Tublay, Benguet as the region’s contender for the national Nutrition Honor Award; the City of Baguio for Quality Nutrition Program,  and Barangay Middle Quezon Hill, Baguio City as the Best Barangay Nutrition Committee.

Other special awards were also given to Cordillera LGUs with below ten percent stunting prevalence among 0 – 59 months children in 2021 and those with continuous decrease of stunting prevalence from 2019 to 2021.

DOH – CAR OIC Assistant Regional Director Dr. Janice Bugtong, NNC – CAR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Bella Basalong, RNC member Philippine Information Agency Regional Director Helen Tibaldo and guest of honor and speaker, Professor V Imelda Degay of Benguet State University, led the awarding of plaque of recognition to the nutrition champions.

Bugtong and Basalong lauded  the region’s LGUs, nutrition focal persons and other members of the local nutrition councils for their important contributions in ensuring the delivery of nutrition programs and services amidst the COVID – 19 pandemic.

“As we celebrate this moment, we are beyond grateful that despite the challenges that we encountered due to the COVID – 19 pandemic, the local government units and the local nutrition workers were able to deliver nutrition programs to ensure that malnutrition will not aggravate with the unprecedented struggles we are facing at this moment, Basalong said.

 Towards the goal of effective and efficient implementation of nutrition program, Bugtong advised, “True to public health nutrition, we must employ different programs from different agencies and stakeholders in order to unravel the tie keeping us from our targets. Let us all integrate relevant nutrition actions into the six pillars of national health system. Let us make it as a multi-sectoral – driven activity not only for nutrition but especially for the achievement of the goals of the Universal Health Care.” (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)