BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Search for Healthiest Office in the Provincial Government of Mountain Province is on.
Spearheaded by the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) and Provincial Coalition on Health Lifestyle (PCHL), the search aims to promote healthy working environment among provincial government employees.
Nutrition Dietitian II Mary Dianne D. Saong of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said that the Panel of Judges chaired by Dr. Penelope A. Domogo have started visiting provincial government offices except for PHO, Bontoc General Hospital and District Hospitals who are excluded from the search.
The judges include representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), PNC and PHO.
This is the first time that the provincial government conducts a Search for Healthiest Office. Offices of seven personnel or below are under the Small Office category while those with eight or more personnel fall under the Big Office category.
The first criteria set by the PNC and PCHL included the following: 1) No smoking in the office and its premises; 2) No drinking during office hours except during special occasions such as Christmas Party; 3) No Chewing of moma in the office; and 4) No burning of waste.
Offices who are qualified in the first four criteria will proceed to the second qualifying round. The criteria includes 1) At least 30% of the staff have normal Body Mass Index (BMI); 2) 95% or more of the staff have normal Blood Pressure; 3) observance and practice of Zero Waste Management which includes the Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and Redeem; 5) well-ventilated office and natural lighting; 6) cleanliness and orderliness; 7) presence of wellness and physical activities; 8) office beautification; 9) promotion of team work and camaraderie; and 10) client-oriented office.
Saong elaborated that the presence of wellness and physical activities covers the number of office’s staff who walks from home to work and /or who walks from office to home, office policy allowing staff to join the Hataw every Thursday, no eating of junk food in the office and promotion of local indigenous food.
In partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) – Provincial Office, the taking of BMI, blood sugar and blood pressure of the provincial government employees was scheduled on September 14, 2017 at the Provincial Capitol Quadrangle.
The final validation to include retaking of BMI and blood pressure of the employees is set in November as the awarding of the Healthiest Office is scheduled in the first week of December 2017.
The winner for the search shall receive a Plaque of Recognition as the Healthiest Office. By Alpine L. Killa
