March 28, 2024

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 2021.
Leading the awardees are Cristal Gail Dacio from Ka-linga 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, the awardees are Kalinga and the municipalities of Asipulo and Hung-duan, Ifugao.
Recipients of special awards are Tublay, Benguet as the region’s contender for the national Nutrition Honor Award; Baguio City for Quality Nutrition Program; and Barangay Middle Quezon Hill, Baguio City as Best Barangay Nutrition Committee.
Other special awards were also given to Cordillera LGUs with below 10 percent stunting prevalence among zero to 59 months children in 2021 and those with continuous decrease of stunting prevalence from 2019 to 2021.
DOH-Cordillera OIC Asst. Regional Director Janice Bugtong, NNC-Cordillera Nutrition Program Coordinator Bella Basalong, RNC member Philippine Information Agency-Cordillera 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 LGUs and the local nutrition workers delivered 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 said, “True to public health nutrition, we must employ different programs from different agencies and stakeholders 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.” – Carlito Dar