Mandaue City has achieved a significant milestone in public health, earning a prestigious national award for its outstanding nutrition programs.
A National Honor for Local Health Efforts
The city was honored with a National Nutrition CROWN Award and received a P500,000 grant during the 2025 National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony at the Manila Hotel. City Councilor Kevin Cabahug, who chairs the Committee on Health and Hospital Services, confirmed that the award was presented on Monday, December 15.
Cabahug emphasized the prestige of the accolade, which is given by the National Nutrition Council (NNC). Mandaue City ranked eighth nationwide and first in Region 7 (Central Visayas), standing out as the only city from the region to receive national-level recognition this year.
Rigorous Evaluation and Key Programs
This national award follows a regional CROWN Award the city received just two months prior, demonstrating the consistency and effectiveness of its health initiatives. The NNC's annual evaluation process is stringent, involving validation visits, scorecards, and assessments by both national and regional councils.
The P500,000 cash incentive will be used to fund additional health and nutrition projects in the city. Cabahug credited the achievement to the collaborative work of the Mandaue City Nutrition Office, led by City Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Jake Ian Seno, alongside the City Health Office, nutritionists, barangay health and nutrition workers (BHWs and BNHWs), barangay officials, and other partners.
"This achievement is the result of strong collaboration among all sectors that support the city’s nutrition programs," Cabahug stated.
Sustained Community-Based Implementation
The programs that impressed the evaluators were community-focused and data-driven. Key initiatives submitted to the NNC included:
- Operation Timbang, a regular weight-monitoring activity.
- A specialized first 120 days nutrition program for children aged zero to two years.
- Various barangay-level nutrition interventions.
- Targeted programs for severely wasted, moderately wasted, and malnourished children.
These efforts were carried out in coordination with the Department of Education and Barangay Nutrition Councils, ensuring a multi-sectoral approach. Cabahug highlighted that the city's strategy focuses on sustained, community-based implementation, making sure programs penetrate down to the household level in every barangay.
In a Facebook post celebrating the victory, Councilor Cabahug expressed immense pride, calling it a true milestone for Mandaue City and a testament to the power of unified action for public health.
