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Experience Naga

Naga wins 8 more AWARDS in 2012

THE City Government of Naga, led by Mayor John Bongat, ended 2012 in high spirits. What with eight more significant awards garnered by the hardworking Bongat administration throughout the year.
“These achievements are not mine alone, they are the product of the entire city hall team, from the elective officials down to the last employee,” the Mayor claims.

The eight awards given to the city to recognize its programs and initiatives were:

Best in e-Gov Customer Empowerment Award – Best City. Given by the organizers of the Jesse M. Robredo Award of Excellence in ICT for Good Governance on November 23 at Sta. Rosa, Laguna; this award recognizes the city government’s initiatives in using information communication technology tools and practices to improve public services, transparency and good governance.

National “Freedom Project” Award. Given by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in recognition of the city government’s efforts in mainstreaming migration in local development at Hotel H20 in Luneta last December 4.

(See related story in this issue )

National Best PESO Awards. Given to Naga’s Public Employment Services Office for being the top regional performer during the 12th National PESO Congress at Baguio City on October 11, 2011.

National Recognition from the Ateneo de Manila School of Government. Given in recognition of the city’s participation in the Government Watch (GWatch) program of the Ateneo de Manila University. The recognition was given thru the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines at the Crowne Plaza Galleria in Mandaluyong City last April 26.

Seal of Good Housekeeping for Local Governments. Given in recognition of the city government’s exemplary performance in internal housekeeping in the areas of good planning, sound fiscal management, transparency and accountability, and performance management. The award was given at the La Piazza Convention Center in Legazpi City last June 1.

Regional Award for Outstanding Local Project Monitoring Committee. Given by the Regional
Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) of the Regional Development Council at the Estevez Hall, NEDA Region V, in Legazpi City on July 6.

Regional Recognition for the city government’s sustained exemplary performance in the implementation of RA 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Act of 2000. Given in view of the city’s practice of segregation at source, segregated collection and the establishment and operationalization of materials recovery facilities. It was given during the 11th year anniversary of the enactment of ESWM Act of 2000 at DENR-EMB Region V Office in Rawis, Legazpi City on January 30.


Regional Finalist in the 2012 Gawad Pamana ng Lahi (city category). Given during the Regional Forum on Local Governance held at La Piazza Convention Center in Legazpi City on October 23.

The major regional and national awards received by  the Bongat administration in 2011 include:
National Best PESO Awards (Component City Category). Given to Naga’s Public Employment Services Office for being the top regional performer during the 11th National PESO Congress at Davao City on October 5, 2011.
Outstanding Pabasa sa Nutrisyon Award. Given in recognition of Naga’s outstanding implementation of the Pabasa sa Nutrisyon Program for the year 2010 by the Philippine Association of Nutrition, Inc. at Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on July 7, 2011.
Panata ko sa Bayan Award – Gawad Paglilingkod sa Sambayanan (GAPAS). Given in recognition of Naga as the Model LGU for the Implementation of Day Care Services during the 60th Anniversary of the Department of Social Welfare Development in Quezon City on January 26, 2011.
“We in the city government reassure our fellow Nagueños that we will always strive for excellence in public service and in governance,” Mayor Bongat says.

“The recognitions we have reaped over the years are a fitting reminder that we should always do our best the best way we can and in the best way we know how,” the inspired Mayor asserts.

Naga Nutrition Awardees Named

by Gerald O. Enguero

AS this city celebrated its 38th Nutrition Month, top performing Barangay Nutrition Committees, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, partner civic organizations, and stakeholders were given due recognition for helping the city government sustain its reputation as a consistent national Hall of Fame awardee in the field of effective health care and nutrition.

With this year’s theme, “Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain!,” a culminating program led by City Mayor John G. Bongat, city nutrition committee chairman, was held August 1 at the Regent Hotel Convention Center here.

City Nutrition and Population Officer Teresita A. del Castillo said that aside from the usual awards, winners were also selected in the new programs introduced, such as “Taranoman sa Tamang Nutrisyon,” “Gulayan sa Barangay Contest,” and the “On-The-Spot Junior Veggies Cooking Contest.”

“Taranoman sa Tamang Nutrisyon” is a program that aims to improve the nutritional status of school children by using vegetables as main ingredients in feeding programs. It also aims to encourage school officials and pupils to plant vegetables and fruit trees as means of producing healthy food for school, home and community.

The program was implemented by different public elementary schools in Naga. Twelve schools were cited for their commendable implementation of the program and were awarded with plaques of commendation and garden tools.

For Small Area Category: Carolina Elementary School, first place; Naga Central School I, second; and Concepcion Grande Elementary School, third.

For Medium Area Category: Dr. Domingo Abcede Elementary School, first place; Don Manuel Abella Elementary School, second place; and Mabolo Elementary School, third place.

For Large Area Category: Panicuason Elementary School, first place; Villa Grande Elementary School, second place; and Morada Ramos Elementary School, third place.

For High School Category: Camarines Sur National High School, first place; Carolina High School, second place; and Don Leon Mercado High School, third place.

The Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) award is aimed at evaluating the performance of BNS and checking improvement of the nutritional status of every barangay. Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar, Marilou Jimenez, received a cash prize of Php2,000 and a plaque of commendation.

With Concepcion Grande as a Hall of Fame Awardee after having won as Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Committee for the past three years, this year’s most Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Committee went to Barangay Carolina that won a cash prize of Php5, 000. Second place went to Barangay Del Rosario with a cash prize of Php3,000, and third place went to Barangay Sabang with a cash prize of Php1,000.

The “Gulayan sa Barangay” Contest was introduced last year to encourage people in the city’s 27 barangays to plant vegetables and fruit trees for their feeding programs while interacting with fellow members in the community.

For Small Area category, Barangay Tinago was adjudged fi rst place and won a cash prize of Php4,000, followed by Concepcion Pequeña with Php3,500 cash prize, and Barangay Mabolo with Php3,000 cash prize. For Medium Area category, Barangay Sta. Cruz won first place and received Php4,000 cash. Barangay Triangulo was named second place with Php3,500 cash prize, while Barangay Calauag was awarded third place with Php3,000 cash prize.

For Large Area Category, Barangay San Felipe garnered the fi rst place with a cash prize of Php4,000 followed by Barangay Abella, second place with Php3,500 cash prize, and by Barangay Concepcion Grande, third place with Php3,000 cash prize.

In the “On the Spot Junior Veggies Cooking Contest,” Juana Marie Roman of Barangay Tabuco, won first place and a cash prize of Php3,000; Crisalyn Harriette A. Vida of Barangay Tinago, second with Php2,000 cash; and Mary Jane San Agustin of Barangay Cararayan, third with Php1,000 cash. Participants in the contest were aged 10-12 years old.

Del Castillo said, “We decided to create a program which includes the children in our city for them to value more the importance of nutritious food.”

(Bicol Mail)

Taranoman sa Tamang Nutrisyon awarding ceremonies: (L-R) City Nutrition and Population Officer Teresita Del Castillo, Councilors Raoul Rosales, Nene De Asis and Babet Lavadia, Naga Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Emma Cornejo, National Nutrition Council Officers Ms. Arlene R. Reario and Ms. Carolina Batallones with Mayor John Bongat, Vice Mayor Gabriel Bordado, Jr. and representatives of the Camarines Sur National High School, 1st placer in the high school category.

 

Naga City Breastfeeding Center opens 650 volunteers trained

Another First in Naga

A strategy designed to promote infant and young child feeding and maternal health here is being set up now as the international agency originally funding the program under the Millennium Development Goals is about to turn over this year to the city government its full implementation.

Alongside the operationalization of such mechanism, the city government, under the leadership of Mayor John Bongat, and accompanied by business leaders from the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), attended the blessing and inauguration of the Php500,000 Naga City Breastfeeding Center, located at the main building of the City Hall compound.

The Center maintains a corner where mothers can extract their milk by way of breastfeeding pumps and an area where they can express their milk with their babies. The first LGU established breastfeeding facility in the Bicol Region, it is also equipped with audio-visual facility and reading materials that contain information on infant and maternal healthcare.

Mayor John Bongat said the Center will cater not only to the employees of the city government, but also to private individuals and clients of the LGU.

Teresita A. del Castillo, head of City Population and Nutrition Office (CPNO), said the Center will be manned by a designated officer-of the- day, a Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) who will also help the CPNO in conducting counseling services for mothers on infant and child feeding.

As the city’s partner MNCCI has encouraged businessmen to put up breastfeeding stations in their establishments to allow mother-employees to express milk even during working hours.


City Nutrition and Population Officer Teresita del Castillo (right) accompanies Councilor Nene de Asis (behind), Vice Mayor Gabriel Bordado, Jr. (partly hidden), and Councilor Ray-An Rentoy (second from right) during the blessing of the breastfeeding center at the City Hall compound.
Mayor Bongat delivers an inspiring message after the blessing of the new facility.

The construction of the Center was mandated by City Ordinance 2011-032 authored by City Councilor Cecilia Veluz-De Asis, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on Family, Women and Gender Development and co-chairwoman of the Committee on Children.

The ordinance also seeks for the establishment of similar facilities in commercial establishments in the city to allow lactating mothers to engage in exclusive breastfeeding even while in their respective workstations.

The establishment of breastfeeding centers is a strategy being adopted by the City Government of Naga to address poverty and hunger and to reduce the infant mortality rate–goals that are set in the UN-sanctioned Millennium Development Goals.

To complement this measure, the city government will also field 650 trained peer counselors who will serve as force multipliers in the implementation of the citywide breastfeeding advocacy.

He said the trainings will help qualify volunteers to become partners in realizing at least three Millennium Development Goals: in the eradication of extreme hunger and poverty, reduction of infant mortality rate, and improvement of maternal health.

The CPNO also held a series of trainings for female volunteer groups from the city’s 27 barangays. The series, which focused on infant and young child feeding, was conducted from November 5-10 at a hotel here in Naga.

To be armed with appropriate knowledge and understanding on breastfeeding, the volunteers will be fielded immediately after the training to their own neighborhoods along with Barangay Health Workers (BHW) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS).

The City Government of Naga thru the CPNO has been actively pursuing the campaign on breastfeeding since 2010, a task that enables the LGU to achieve a commendable accomplishment for decimating malnutrition among infants.

Bongat said such feat creates a “bayanihan” ethnicity among Nagueños, thus the achievement of an overwhelming number of volunteers who want to work along with the city government in the aforementioned thrusts of MDG.

(Bicol Mail)