Bontoc, Mountain Province – The Barangay Nutrition Committee of Bontoc Ili bagged 3rd place in the Cordillera Nutrisong 2021 Contest for the Local Nutrition Committees (LNCs) organized by the National Nutrition Council – Cordillera Administrative Region (NNC-CAR).
Barangay Bontoc Ili will receive a cash prize of P20, 000 and a certificate will be received by the winning group which is composed of five Barangay Nutrition Scholars from Bontoc Ili.
Meanwhile, the Province of Benguet and Province of Ifugao won the first prize at P30, 000 and the second prize at P25, 000, respectively. The City of Baguio, Province of Kalinga, and Province of Apayao were awarded a consolation prize of P7, 000 each.
The tune of the entry song of Bontoc Ili was adapted from the Ifuntok song “Puon ken Gapu.” The lyrics was composed by Nora Burgan and technical assistance were provided by the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) through the Municipal Health Office (MHO), Provincial Health Office (PHO), and Barangay LGU of Bontoc Ili.
With the theme “Malnutrisyon Patuloy na Labanan, First 1000 Days Tutukan!, ” the contest aims to increase awareness on the meaning of this year’s theme and to increase camaraderie among LNC members.
According to the NNC-CAR, the First 1000 Days refers to the period between conception and the child’s second birthday. It is considered the “Golden Window of Opportunity” where the health, nutrition and development foundations of the child are established.
Video submissions were evaluated based on the message of the song (20%), the song’s musicality10%), the use of indigenous/Cordilleran melody (10%), and creativity and overall performance (10%) totalling to 50%.
Meanwhile, the other 50% generated from the reactions from social media linked to the original post at the NNC-CAR Fanpage.
Prior to its entry in regional level contest, Barangay Bontoc Ili emerged as the champion in the Provincial Nutrisong 2021 Contest, thereby representing Mountain Province in the Cordillera Nutrisong 2021 Contest for the LNCs. As the provincial champion, Barangay Bontoc Ili received a cash prize of P15, 000.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey congratulated the winners and reminded the public the importance of nutrition.
“I express my warmest congratulations to the winners who devoted their time and effort for the contest. May I also take this opportunity to remind everyone that health is one of the most important things in our life. Therefore, we should do all the means possible to maintain a healthy life,” Odsey added.
Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Diga Kay Gomez joined the mayor in congratulating Barangay Bontoc Ili.
“With all the toxicities present around the world, this kind of government initiative is one way of making progress towards development and with everybody’s help, we will get there,” she added.
Presidential Decree 491 in 1974 declared that Nutrition Month shall be celebrated July of every year to create greater awareness on the importance of nutrition among Filipinos. // Christy Che-es & Alpine L. Killa, Bontoc LGU
