MANILA – Civil Service Commission chairperson Karlo Nograles thanked the country’s nutrition workers and urged them to continue their noble tasks of providing nutrition services to the Filipino people as the country strives to build back better after the pandemic.
In a press statement on Wednesday, Nograles said the country’s nutrition action officers, nutrition program coordinators, barangay nutrition scholars, nutrition workers and volunteers remain as first line of defense against diseases and infections and are the vital link between communities to health providers and facilities, and ultimately the government.
“Thank you for the continued conduct of healthcare and nutrition services through day-to-day household visits, to reporting for duty even in areas of conflict and even during the pandemic, and for being our health advocates, we salute all of you… for taking on this heroic task,” Nograles said in his keynote address.
He joined the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in awarding the most outstanding local government units (LGUs) and local nutrition focal points (LNFP) at the 2022 National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony held March 20 at the Centennial Hall of Manila Hotel in Manila City.
“Ipagpatuloy ninyo ang pagsasabuhay ng ideolohiya ng kabutihan at malasakit sa kapwa, katapatan, at kahusayan upang magsilbing inspirasyon sa kapwa natin lingkod bayan (Continue putting into practice the ideology of kindness and compassion to our fellowmen, sincerity and competence so that you may serve as an inspiration to our fellow civil servants). This is something you should continue to live by, be proud of, and celebrate,” he added.
Nograles, who formerly headed the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger during his stint as Cabinet Secretary, also expressed gratitude to the families of nutrition officers, barangay nutrition scholars, and barangay health workers, for their “tireless support and motivation that allowed these government workers to effectively deliver their duties.”
In his speech, he likewise echoed the sentiments of the nutrition workers.
“We know that there is so much that we need to do to address the gaps we have when it comes to our nutrition projects. And so, with the legislators here present, I would like to appeal na sana sa panawagan ng lahat ng nandito ngayon na (that as to the call of everyone here present), it is time to institutionalize in all local government units the (plantilla) items for our nutrition workers,” Nograles said.
The annual awarding rites, led by Department of Health OIC-Secretary Dr. Maria Rosario S. Vergeire and NNC Executive Director Dr. Azucena Dayanghirang, was also attended by awardees from LGUs, representatives from national government agencies, and members of the academe and non-government organizations.
Aside from trophies and certificates, cash prizes were given to the recipients of the following awards: Nutrition Honor Award and 2nd Year Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition for LGUs; National Outstanding Provincial and City Nutrition Action Officers, National Outstanding City and District Nutrition Action Officers, and National Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar for LNFPs. (PNA)
