NNC Western Visayas honors nutrition champion LGUs
The National Nutrition Council (NNC) Western Visayas has recognized outstanding local government units and local nutrition focal points during the 2025 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (RNAC), held in Iloilo City.
The event honored Local Government Units (LGUs), program coordinators, barangay nutrition scholars, and partner institutions for their performance in advancing local nutrition programs.
The annual award aims to promote accountability and highlight models of effective nutrition programs.
“Behind every award we will confer today are countless hours of service, innovative strategies, and unwavering dedication to improving the lives of families and communities,” said NNC Western Visayas OIC- Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Sheryl S. Sedantes.
“This ceremony is not only a celebration of success, but also a proof of what can be achieved when purpose meets perseverance,” she said.
NNC Deputy Executive Director Atty. Rosalina U. Bascao said the recognition affirms the Council’s commitment to support local governments in strengthening nutrition initiatives.
“Today we celebrate excellence, but more importantly, we reaffirm our mission to advance and improve nutrition and health for every Filipino, especially the most vulnerable,” she added, saying, “behind every program you champion is the spark that pushes communities to aim higher and reach further.”
The RNAC is the culmination of the NNC’s Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI), which tracks LGU performance in nutrition program management and nutrition outcomes.
For this year’s ceremony, the LGUs received awards under the Green Banner Seal of Compliance (GBSC).
Awardees included the provinces of Capiz and Negros Occidental; the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Cadiz, Sagay, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay, and Victorias in Negros Occidental, and Iloilo City in Iloilo; and the municipalities of Bugasong and Valderrama in Antique, Dumarao and Sapian in Capiz, Enrique B. Magalona and Hinoba-an in Negros Occidental, Ibajay and Madalag in Aklan, and Lemery and Tigbauan in Iloilo.
The municipality of Miagao in Iloilo was named Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN), which recognizes the LGU that has consistently achieved the GBSC Award for three consecutive years and earned top regional rankings with a MELLPI PRO score of 90 percent or higher.
Individual awardees were: Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar: Flordeliz Dionora of Poblacion, Enrique B. Magalona, Negros Occidental; Regional Outstanding City Program Coordinator Lora Maria Clarin of Bacolod City; Regional Outstanding District Program Coordinator Glonie Suasin of Negros Occidental; Regional Outstanding Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Rhea Palacios of Miagao, Iloilo; and Regional Outstanding Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Wendel Marcelo of the Province of Iloilo.
NNC also recognized the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team, the Regional Nutrition Committee, the Regional Nutrition Technical Committee, the Scaling Up Nutrition Regional Network, and the Nutri-Media Circle for their roles in sustaining regional nutrition efforts.
Sedantes said the awards reinforce a shared responsibility in addressing malnutrition.
“Your passion has strengthened programs, reduced malnutrition, empowered families, and inspired partnerships across sectors,” she said. (PIA6)
