The National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony: Meet the Nutrition Champions of 2019

The National Nutrition Awarding ceremony (NNAC) is an annual event carried out by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to give honor to local government units and nutrition workers who have shown exemplary commitment to improving the nutritional status of their respective areas. This year, around 600 guests celebrated the achievements of nutrition champions at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on 30 August 2019. Cabinet Secretary Karlo B. Nograles represented President Rodrigo R. Duterte in recognizing the awardees.

Awards that were given out in the annual NNAC include the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) Award, Nutrition Honor Award (NHA), and the National Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (NOBNS) Award.

Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) Award

The CROWN Award is received by municipalities, cities, and/or provinces that excelled in nutrition program management and are bestowed the Green Banner Award in their respective regions for three consecutive years. The CROWN awardees recognized this year are:

1. City of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro

2. Municipality of Ibajay, Aklan

3. Municipality of Carmen, Bohol

4. City of Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte

5. City of Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental

6. Municipality of Maco, Compostela Valley

These LGUs were adjudged by the interagency regional nutrition evaluation team as outstanding in the region. They received the CROWN trophy and a cash prize of P500,000.

The CROWN trophy embodies the local nutrition committee’s burning desire for excellence and success in improving nutrition in their areas. The three layers of flames manifest the years of hard work and the triumph of the LGUs as the regional outstanding winner in nutrition prior to receiving their CROWN Award. The gradual change in color and height symbolizes the LGU’s endless and intensified efforts in nutrition program management, resulting to consistent maintenance of the award.

After another year of sustained outstanding nutrition programs implemented as validated by a national nutrition evaluation team, the first year CROWN Maintenance Award is given to deserving LGUs.

Recipients of the First CROWN Maintenance Award are:

1. Municipality of Santa, Ilocos Sur

2. City of Vigan, Ilocos Sur

3. Municipality of Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya

4. Municipality of Tublay, Benguet

5. Municipality of Talavera, Nueva Ecija

6. Municipality of Mabalacat, Pampanga

7. City of Biñan, Laguna

8. Municipality of Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay

9. Province of Misamis Occidental

10. Municipality of Polomolok, South Cotabato

Still, after receiving the first year CROWN maintenance award and sustaining for the second year their outstanding nutrition program implementation, validated by the national nutrition evaluation team, deserving LGUs receive the second year CROWN Maintenance Award.

Recipients of the second year CROWN Maintenance Award are:

1. Municipality of Kalayaan, Laguna

2. City of Roxas, Oriental Mindoro

3. Municipality of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

4. City of Tagum, Davao del Norte

Nutrition Honor Award

Following three years of consistent outstanding performances in nutrition program management as CROWN and CROWN Maintenance Awardees for consecutive years, deserving LGUs are conferred the Nutrition Honor Award (NHA). The NHA is the highest and the most prestigious recognition award of the NNC for LGUs with sustained outstanding nutrition program implementation based on NNC’s protocol for six consecutive years. The NHA awardees this year are the:

1. City of Ilagan, Isabela

2. City of Baguio, Benguet

3. City of Taguig, Metro Manila

Recipients of the Nutrition Honor Award received the NHA trophy and a cash prize of P1,000,000.

The NHA trophy is well inspired by the flames in the CROWN trophy signifying the continuous and intensified efforts, unending commitment and burning desire of LGUs to succeed in improving nutrition in their areas.

The solid glass base symbolizes the strong foundation built by the LGU for the six years of hard work in maintaining the successful nutrition program management. Likewise, the beveled cuts of the trophy embody the pruning and refinement they have undergone to achieve the height of excellence.

National Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (NOBNS)

Yearly, the National Outstanding BNS is chosen among the more than 42,000 BNSs deployed nationwide using NNC’s assessment protocol. This year, the national outstanding BNS is Ms. Eden A. Cordova of Barangay Awitan, Daet, Camarines Norte. Ms. Cordova received a trophy together with a cash prize of P150,000.

Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) are community volunteer workers on nutrition that are deployed in every barangay. They are responsible for monitoring the nutritional status of children and assist in the delivery of nutrition services in their respective barangays.

To date, a total of 61 LGUs have been conferred the Nutrition Honor Award while 131 LGUs have received the CROWN, and these numbers continue to increase every year.

The NNC is resolute in its commitment to enhance capacities of LGUs to deliver quality nutrition programs. For the outstanding LGUs and nutrition workers, NNC will never tire of recognizing your outstanding efforts! And for aspiring LGUs, the CROWN awaits your coming! (NNC)