PGLU Institutionalizes Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholars Award
By: Jane T. Flores | By: GPC-SP | Date: January 30, 2019
The Provincial Government of La Union, through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan enacted Ordinance 155-2018, creating the Ten Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) Award in the Province of La Union.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Ruperto A. Rillera, Jr., the principal author of said ordinance, underscored in his sponsorship speech that BNS are among the volunteer community workers who sacrifice a lot of their time, own money and efforts in fulfilling their responsibilities as link between the community, service providers and various organizations working to improve the nutrition status in the barangays and yet they are less recognized. “Although there is an existing recognition program of barangay Nutrition Scholars established by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the National Nutrition Council, the province would like to institutionalize the same to inspire more BNS to further improve their quality of service and to recognize their volunteering efforts, competence, dedication and commitment,” he said.
The award is limited to duly registered and accredited BNS of good standing for two years. The ordinance adopted the same point system as in the regional and national competitions so that provincial awardees would not need to adjust further. The criteria include program management for 40 points; site visitation for 30 points; validation of weights of sample preschoolers for 20 points and other accomplishments 10 points.
To be truly deserving of the word “outstanding,” only nominees with a grade equivalent of 90% and above shall be qualified for the award. Each of the Top 10 winners shall be awarded a Plaque of Recognition and a cash prize of P10,000.00.
A nominee, not necessarily the nominee with the highest grade, with the most innovative nutrition project in the barangay and can be replicated in other barangays shall receive a cash prize of P50,000.00 worth for an identified project or for the continued implementation of the existing innovative nutrition project.
Nominations will be open for the whole month of February this year and every year thereafter. Nomination forms are available at the Provincial Nutrition Office.
This ordinance, which institutionalized the award, is another policy enacted by the 21st Sangguniang Panlalawigan that will ensure the attainment of one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the province of La Union that is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health by promoting the welfare of BNS and recognizing their vital role as government partners in the delivery of basic health and nutrition services to communities and people in our province.
