NCC AWARDEE. Taguig City officials receive award from the National Nutrition Council members Friday (Aug. 30, 2019). Taguig bested local government units (LGUs) across the country with outstanding nutrition programs since 2013. (Photo courtesy of Taguig PIO)
MANILA -- Taguig City has added another feather in its cap after winning another award from the National Nutrition Council (NNC) on Friday (Aug. 30) as among the top local government units (LGUs) across the country with outstanding nutrition programs since 2013.
Taguig is the only city from the National Capital Region to receive the prestigious Nutrition Honor 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.
Bernabe said the journey to the top was not easy as 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 very satisfactory performance in its implementation of nutrition programs.
The city again received the award in 2014 and 2015, further inspiring city officials.
But the awards did not stop there.
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, former Mayor and now Taguig (2nd District) Rep. Lani 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," she added.
Recognized through the awards are the city's programs aimed at eradicating malnutrition -- 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, 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.
The Taguig government will surely not stop there.
Under the leadership of Mayor Lino Cayetano, the city's health programs shall be expanded and intensified 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.
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.
Aside from these, Taguig also runs 31 health centers plus three super health centers that are open 24/7. All these centers are PhilHealth accredited. (PR)
