The 3rd Salud Bicolnon Awards and 2012 Nutrition Awarding ceremony was held at the The Oriental Hotel in Legazpi City on July 31, 2012. The event was graced by Department of Health Undersecretary Teodoro J. Herbosa who delivered the keynote speech during the ceremony. Speaking before hundreds of guests and local officials from local government units, USEC Herbosa talked about mainstreaming healthcare with other priority programs of the government. In Bicol, said USEC Herbosa, there will soon rise a Cancer Center to address the needs of an increasing number of cancer patients in the region. He also added that an MRI facility will soon be set up in Naga City. This way, Bicolanos will no longer be inconvenienced by traveling all the way to Manila to avail of these services. USEC Herbosa was also present during the Presentation of DUGONG BICOL Awards to Local Chief Executives and barangay officials from identified provinces. The awardees totaled to 231 with 17 of them as Hall of Famers.
Also, the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) with outstanding performance for the year 2011 were given due recognition and were awarded a trophy and cash. For the Regional OBNS category, Naga City bagged the award. Runners up were Iriga City and Tiwi, Albay. Likewise, the Green Banner Awardee for Outstanding City in the Bicol Region in 2011 was given to Iriga City while Gubat, Sorsogon as the Outstanding Municipality. Basud, Camarines Norte made it to the 2nd place. The Province of Sorsogon is the Top Ranking Province in the Bicol Region while Tabaco and Ligao are the High Performing Cities for 2011.
The Green Banner Award is given to a municipality, city or province which has shown very satisfactory performance in implementing its nutrition program. An area awarded for 3 consecutive years as outstanding regional winner is awarded the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition or CROWN Award.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government enjoins all local government units in supporting the programs of the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) with the common goal of promoting health and eradicating malnutrition in the country. – (LGOO IV Grace Mago)