Region IV-B

Details: Category: Region 4b; Published: 06 February 2012

The National Nutrition Council Technical Committee approved the theme for this year's Nutrition Month celebration which is "Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain!" The theme focuses on encouraging Filipinos to increase consumption of vegetables to address micronutrient deficiencies and prevent non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.

Details: Category: Region 4b; Published: 02 December 2013

21 November 2013 - Claudio Sandoval North Elementary School, the only remaining evacuation center in Coron, Palawan which temporarily cradles 114 families and 279 individuals, received Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and nutrition counseling to pregnant, lactating, and parents having three year old and below children by the National Nutrition Council staff, Ms. Jane Christine Guballa and Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) of Palawan, Ms. Rachel Paladan, together with the municipal health workers of Coron. IYCF counseling aims to empower nutritionally at-risk groups with the proper knowledge on nutrition highlighting on the importance of breastfeeding and proper and safe complementary foods especially during these crucial times that these children carry the double vulnerability of being undernourished due to their tender age and likelihood of not getting enough nutrients due to food insecurity as a result of the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda.

Details: Category: Region 4b; Published: 27 February 2014

ro4b 2014 nut workers creative ways promote ngf The National Nutrition Council - MIMAROPA (NNC- MIMAROPA) successfully gathered the Nutrition Action Officers, District / City Nutrition Program Coordinators, and Barangay Nutrition Scholar Presidents of MIMAROPA Region in a two-day event last February 24-25, 2014 at the L& B Suites, 8459, Kalayaan Avenue corner Don Pedro St., Poblacion, Makati City. Key nutrition stakeholders, Ms. Lolita C. Yulo of City Social and Welfare Development of Puerto Princesa City and Provincial Health Officer Louie Ocampo of Palawan also attended the event to show their support.

The first day focused on the conduct of the 1^st semi-annual meeting of the regional federations such as the National Association of Nutrition Action Officers – MIMAROPA Chapter (NAOPA – MIMAROPA), District / City Nutrition Program Coordinators Association of the Philippines – MIMAROPA Chapter (D/CNPCAP - MIMAROPA) and BNS Federation of Region IV-B Inc. while the second day was devoted for the training on the promotion of the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos.

OIC Carina Z. Santiago of NNC-MIMAROPA expressed her gratitude for the unwavering commitment and support of the nutrition workers in leading the implementation of nutrition programs and activities and for their effort to grace the two-day event.

To update the participants of the current nutrition situation in the region, Nutrition Officer I Sheila Marie A. Vergara of NNC – MIMAROPA presented and discussed the results of the Operation Timbang 2013 and School Weighing, School Year 2012-2013. Moreover, Nutrition Officer III Donnah May S. Guevarra of NNC – MIMAROPA presented plans and activities for 2014.

Details: Category: Region 4b; Published: 23 December 2013

“Ang pagiging BNS po ay hindi madaling trabaho… ito ay isang sakripisyo… Bakit ko po nasabi iyon? Kasi po simula sa pagbubuntis, pagsilang, hanggang sa kanilang paglaki at pagtanda ay amin silang inaalagaan; kasama na rin ang mga tb patients sa mga kliyente namin… Sa kabila po nito, kusang loob kong tinanggap ang pagiging BNS dahil nais kong makatulong sa aking mga kabarangay at maipagpatuloy ang nasimulan ng aking ina na naglingkod din bilang BNS sa loob ng 31 taon. Nakita ko po sa kanya ang malasakit at pagmamahal sa kanyang ginagawa. Ito po ang nagbigay sa akin ng inspirasyon upang maglingkod ng tapat at walang pag-iimbot.”

*Excerpt from the message of 2012 ROBNS JOSEPHINE R. BALINGIT

of Barangay de Villa, Sta Cruz, Marinduque

The acceptance speech of ROBNS Josephine R. Balingit was delivered during the 2013 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony held on 6 December 2013 at The Heritage Hotel in Pasay City. She was also adjudged as a Third placer for 2012 National Outstanding BNS.

ROBNS Balingit was recognized together with two other ROBNs namely: Ms. Pedrita C. Ogayre of Barangay Little Tanauan, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro (First Runner- Up) and Ms. Ruby M. Padilla of Barangay Cabayugan, Puerto Princesa (Second Runner- Up). They received plaques of Recognition and cash awards.

Details: Category: Region 4b; Published: 04 August 2015

ro4b lubang island 2014 outstanding bns The unspoiled and still unexplored island of Lubang is located southwest of Manila and northwest of mainland Mindoro. As an island, it boasts of extensive marine biodiversity. And now, it also boasts of its dedicated community nutrition worker in the person of Mary Karen Dueñas of Barangay Bagong Sikat in the municipality of Lubang.

Mary Karen Dueñas is the 2014 Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar for Mimaropa Region for having the highest final score of 96.05% among the other six contenders from the different provinces and cities in Mimaropa

Mary Karen Dueñas was visited and evaluated by Nutrition Officer III Jellie Anne Palencia of the National Nutrition Council – Mimaropa and Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team member Mark Angelo Lorenzo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Mimaropa last 15 May 2015. Although BNS Dueñas’ clients which include the preschool children, and pregnant and lactating women, among others, are relatively small in numbers, the two evaluators saw the perseverance of BNS Dueñas in monitoring their nutritional status in the barangay which is relatively large in land area. The barangay also maintains its zero malnourish status since the 1st Quarter of 2014. BNS Dueñas, together with other members of the Barangay Nutrition Committee, also religiously maintains their community garden, conducts mothers’ classes and supplementary feeding and advocates for mass micronutrient supplementation and the use of fortified foods in their barangay.

BNS Dueñas will be visited and evaluated by the National Nutrition Evaluation Team by the 3rd week of August 2015.

Details: Category: Region 4b; Published: 23 December 2013

MIMAROPA as “Destination of Choice” – The Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) commits to achieve through informed and empowered MIMAROPANs who value nutrition as the key not only for their development but also the region as well.

The 1^st RNC meeting for C.Y. 2014 was held last 29 January 2014 at the Fernando Generics Hall, Center for Health Development IV-A, Quirino Memorial Medical Center Compound, Project 4, Quezon City with OIC Carina Z. Santiago of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) – MIMAROPA presiding the meeting and Director Cristina V. Castillo of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) IV-B taking the lead together with representatives from the member agencies.

To keep abreast with the current nutrition situation in the region, Nutrition Officer I Sheila Marie A. Vergara presented the 2013 Operation Timbang and S.Y 2012-2013 School Weighing Results. Moreover, Food and Drug Regulation Officer II Luzvimin G. Atienza of the Center for Health Development IV-B discussed past Regional Bantay Asin Task Force activities. After which, OIC Santiago presented the 2013 RNC activities and accomplishments and the proposed plans and activities for 2014 in which the committee had approved and committed to take part in.

Indeed, the meeting was a success with promising plans and activities that would improve the nutritional status of every MIMAROPAN and will make MIMAROPA, a destination of state of being and choice!