By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino NNC CALABARZON Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Lourdes Bulante-Orongan addresses the 2026 Regional...
By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino
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| NNC CALABARZON Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Lourdes Bulante-Orongan addresses the 2026 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony on October 15 in Tagaytay City, recognizing outstanding local nutrition programs and achievers. (Ronda Balita Pilipinas) |
LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Nutrition programs in at least four Quezon local governments earned regional recognition as the National Nutrition Council (NNC) honored outstanding performers during the 2026 CALABARZON Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony on October 15. Tayabas City and the municipalities of Sariaya, Infanta and San Antonio were among those recognized at Hotel Casiana & Events Center in Tagaytay City.
Tayabas City and Sariaya received Third-Year Green Banner Seal of Compliance awards for their performance in nutrition governance and program implementation. Infanta and San Antonio also secured Green Banner recognition, according to announcements published by their respective local governments and information offices.
Tayabas City earned additional recognition when Barangay Libjo was named a finalist in the CALABARZON Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Committee category. The awards were based on nutrition performance assessments under the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation Protocol (MELLPI Pro), which examines planning, implementation and service delivery.
The recognition came amid worsening regional nutrition indicators, with childhood stunting increasing from 18.5 percent in 2023 to 21.2 percent in 2025, according to the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute. Underweight prevalence among children below five years old also rose from 11.3 percent to 13.9 percent, while moderate to severe food insecurity increased from 19.1 percent to 22.6 percent.
NNC CALABARZON has urged local governments to sustain nutrition services despite economic pressures and rising food costs affecting vulnerable households. Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Lourdes Bulante-Orongan emphasized the importance of maintaining essential interventions during an evaluation-related activity in April 2026.
“The continuity of nutrition programs is critical, especially during crises that may worsen hunger and malnutrition. LGUs play a vital role in safeguarding the nutritional well-being of their constituents,” Bulante-Orongan said.
Other Quezon municipalities received nutrition-related recognition during the July 1 Barangay Nutrition Scholars Convention in Lucena City, including Candelaria and Tagkawayan, which secured Green Banner Seal of Compliance awards. Candelaria also earned Nutrition Champion recognition, while Tagkawayan nutrition personnel Ivan Lorenz Go and Rence Bryan De Lara were named finalists in their respective categories.
Bulante-Orongan also called for stronger cooperation among government agencies and communities following the release of updated regional nutrition findings in July 2026. She emphasized that addressing malnutrition requires coordinated interventions extending beyond health institutions to include local governments, community organizations and households.
“The survey findings remind us that malnutrition remains a complex challenge that cannot be addressed by the health sector alone. It requires the collective action of government agencies, local government units, development partners, communities, and families,” Bulante-Orongan said.
Meanwhile, Quezon District Nutrition Program Coordinator Kristine Nicole Estrella underwent national-level validation from October 7 to 9 as a contender for the National Outstanding District Nutrition Program Coordinator award. Evaluators reviewed program accomplishments and supporting documents, visited provincial nutrition facilities and concluded the assessment with a feedback session involving provincial nutrition personnel.
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