In celebration of Nutrition Month, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) has lauded Muntinlupa City for its exemplary performance in the implementation of nutrition program management and delivery of nutrition services.
NNC Deputy Executive Director Dr. Azucena Dayanghari awarded Muntinlupa with Very Satisfactory Performance in Nutrition Program Management citation, Most Improved Nutrition Program Management, Best in Program Effectiveness, and Most Innovative Local Government Unit in the 2017 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony last July 28 at Novotel Manila, Quezon City.
Dr. Dayanghari congratulated all local government units in this year’s awarding for their efforts to forward more inclusive programs despite trappings of urbanization.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi attributed the recognition to having an active and fully functional City Nutrition Committee based on the Local Nutrition Committee Functionality Checklist of the National Nutrition Council.
Prevalence of underweight children zero to five years old in Muntinlupa was significantly reduced from 5.07 percent in 2014 to 1.53 percent in 2016.
Nutrition interventions implemented by the CNC include: “Tamang Timbang Tungo sa Malusog na Kinabukasan” (Proper Weight Toward a Health Tomorrow) supplementary feeding program, “Pabasa sa Nutrisyon” (PSN or Reading for Nutrition) classes for mothers of undernourished children, Breastmilk Letting Caravan through partnership with private health institutions, and home visits by Barangay Nutrition Scholars, among others.
Also receiving the awards for Muntinlupa City were Rep. Ruffy Biazon, City Health Officer Dra. Magdalena Meana, Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Mauro de Gulan, and other city government executives.
Students from Muntinlupa also won in the Regional Nutrition Month Competitions: Photo-Essay, First Place by Muntinlupa National HS Grade 12 student Janelyn Joyce Paje, and On-the-Spot Poster Making, First Place by Muntinlupa Business HS-Sucat Annex Grade 8 student Jhonathan Bufete.
Every year, NNC awards LGUs with top scores in the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation, which aims to validate the effectivity and effectiveness of the nutrition and related programs by local nutrition committees.