Negros Oriental rules nutrition awards

CEBU, Philippines — Negros Oriental went home the most number of awards during the recently concluded 2018 Grand Nutrition Awards by the National Nutrition Council in Central Visayas.

 Negros Oriental's Pamplona won as Crown Maintenance Awardee for the second time; Barangay Boyco, Bayawan City and Barangay Banilad, Dumaguete City were chosen as Outstanding Barangays in the City; Barangay Puhagan, Valencia bagged the Most Promising Barangay and two Good Nutrition Practice and Project Awards.

For the Social Media Awards, Negros Oriental also won as the Best Provincial Nutrition Facebook Page while Tanjay City, Negros Oriental was adjudged as Best City Nutrition Facebook page. For the "My Garden, My Tour", a home video making contest, Raul Tubag of  Negros Oriental grabbed the first prize as well as the video having the "Most number of Shares and Likes" on Facebook.

For Bohol Province, the municipality of Carmen was awarded Outstanding Municipality in the Region; Barangay Balili as one of the Most Promising Barangays; and Municipality of Mabini as Best Municipal Nutrition Facebook page. 

Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu Province garnered three awards – Outstanding City in Region; Barangay Pajac was chosen as Outstanding Barangay in the Region while Sarah Fuentes of Barangay Pajac was recognized as Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar for her impeccable nutrition documentation and innovative project and activities.

Barangay Poblacion 6 of Tuburan, Cebu was awarded as one of the Most Promising Barangays and Barangay Binabag, Bogo City also received the Outstanding Barangays in the City. Siquijor Province has one most promising barangay and was awarded for Good Nutrition Practice and Project Awards for its Sustained Multi-level support group. 

Dr. Agnes Cecil Realiza, Lapu-Lapu City Nutrition Action Officer, said they have various nutrition programs that curb malnutrition in the city.  She said that of the more than 65,000 children ages below five years old, about 0.8 percent of them is overweight, which is one of the reasons why they got the award for having the lowest malnutrition rate in the region.

Jaime Bernadas, regional director of the Department of Heath-7 and chairperson of the Regional Nutrition Committee, emphasized the importance of good health, especially among the younger generation, that every local government units down to the barangay level should give health and nutrition a priority. — FPL (FREEMAN)