The Taguig City government has received another award from the National Nutrition Council for being among the top local government units in the country with outstanding nutrition programs since 2013.
Taguig is also the only city from Metro Manila to receive the prestigious National Nutrition Award, the highest distinction given by the NNC to an LGU in recognition of its outstanding planning, management and implementation of local nutrition programs.
“We are so happy about this,” said Julie Bernabe, Taguig City Nutrition Action Officer.
According to Bernabe, the journey to the top was not easy. For the city to get this prestigious recognition, Taguig had to hurdle the requirement of getting an award for six consecutive years.
She recalled the sleepless nights of planning and the countless visits of the City Nutrition Office’s personnel to all of Taguig’s barangays to ensure everyone had proper nutrition.
In 2013, Taguig received the Green Banner Award, which is given to a city, municipality or province which has shown a very satisfactory performance in its implementation of nutrition programs.
The city again received the award in 2014 and 2015, further inspiring city officials.
For being a recipient of the Green Banner Award for three consecutive years, Taguig was named the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) again for three consecutive years, from 2016 to 2018.
In 2018, then-Mayor and now-Taguig 2nd Dist. Rep. Laarni Cayetano described the CROWN award as a proof of the hard work of the city to achieve its goals in nutrition.
“This is a testament to our city’s collaborative hard work in providing quality health programs for our constituents,” said Cayetano.
Recognized through the awards are the city’s programs aimed at eradicating malnutrition. First is the “Laging Alagaan Nutrisyon ni Inay” where pregnant women especially those in their teenage years are taught a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle to ensure a safe pregnancy.
Also cited is the Operation Timbang Plus, in which the height and weight of children aged 0-5 years old are collated to determine the child’s nutritional status, and from there, come up with complementary programs.
Under the Dietary Supplementation Program, undernourished children are fed for a period of 120 days to help them get the nutrition they need.
“The awards for me are but proof that the Taguig government genuinely cares about its constituents, so much so the city government goes all out, and I mean all out, to ensure the residents’ nutritional wellbeing,” Bernabe said.
Under the leadership of Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano, the city’s health programs shall be expanded under his 10-point agenda.
“We will prioritize preventive healthcare services and curative health services through additional nutrition programs; improved health services in health centers; programs for sports and wellness and build linkages with other healthcare facilities to improve the medical assistance in the city,” Cayetano said.
He said nutrition is only one of the many areas of health prioritized by the City of Taguig.
“In the probinsyudad, free medicines, wheelchairs, crutches and hearing aids are delivered to the doorsteps of the residents. Physical therapists, nurses and other medical personnel also visit debilitated patients in their homes to respond to their medical needs and teach their families how to properly take care of them,” said Cayetano.
Taguig also runs 31 health centers plus 3 super health centers which are open 24/7. All these centers are Philhealth accredited, he added.