ZAMBOANGA CITY, December 4 - - The Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Nutrition Committee chaired by Dr. Aristides C. Tan, Director IV of the Center for Health – DOH led this year’s Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony which was held on November 28 at the Celebrity Hall, Grand Astoria Hotel, Zamboanga City.
Maria Del Pilar Pamela R. Tarroza, Nutrition Program Coordinator of the National Nutrition Council said the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony is done every year to give recognition to the outstanding LGUs, Nutrition Action Officers and Barangay Nutrition Scholars who made outstanding achievements in nutrition program implementation of the previous year. The selection of winners is based on Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) conducted by the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team.
This year’s ceremony was graced by Assistant Secretary Maria-Bernardita T. Flores, Executive Director of the National Nutrition Council who delivered the keynote address. She commended the outstanding nutrition program implementers for the notable nutrition improvement they have achieved in their respective areas. In the same note she reminded that there is yet much to do as the region continue to be among those with high prevalence of malnutrition.
Leading in the 2010 Outstanding Nutrition Program Performer is Zamboanga Sibugay Province which garnered the Green Banner Award for the third consecutive year. The province has been adjudged as a Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) and as such was awarded with P250,000.00 cash and a trophy during the National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony at the PICC on November 25, 2011.
Zamboanga City and Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte were named Regional Outstanding Performer in the city and municipality categories respectively. The two areas received their Green Banner Awards both for the 2nd consecutive years. The Nutrition Action Officers of these outstanding LGUs were also presented with Certificate of Recognition for their commitment and exemplary management of the nutrition program implementation.
Among those awarded plaque of recognition is Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay which has been able to maintain its 2nd year CROWN award that the municipality won in 2008. Kabasalan a national awardee, is a contender of the Nutrition Honor Award for 2011.
The outstanding performance of Barangay Nutrition Scholars who have vied for the Search for Regional Outstanding BNS was also given recognition. Ranking first among them is BNS Lina Guerrero of Concepcion, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay who was adjudged as Regional Outstanding BNS. Ms. Guerrero who qualified to compete in the search for the National Outstanding BNS also won as 1st runner-up in the national search. Ms. Guerrero received a total of eighty two thousand pesos, a trophy, and a netbook from the National Nutrition Council as award for her outstanding performance as Barangay nutrition Scholar. The Barangay Nutrition Scholars are nutrition volunteer workers who are considered as catalysts for nutrition improvement in the community.
The conduct of the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony was made more noteworthy with the presence of Governor Rommel Jalosjos of Zamboanga Sibugay and Mayor Celso Lobregat who received their respective Green Banner Award as Outstanding Nutrition Program Implementer. The two Local Chief Executives in their response committed to continue to prioritize health and nutrition and to provide more support to the local nutrition program. (MRT/NNC/PIA9/alt)