Davao City (24 November) -- LOCAL Government Units (LGUs) in Southern Mindanao are moving forward towards seriously addressing malnutrition problems in their respective localities.

Ma. Teresa Ungson of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Region 11 during the Nutrition Program Management Training and Nutrition Situation Assessment Workshop in Cagayan de Oro City, had seen a number of emerging winners in nutrition.

Other than the three (not two as reported earlier) national awardees in nutrition, she bared that the cities of Davao and Tagum and the municipality of New Corella in Davao del Norte and Pantukan in Compostela Valley Province were taking significant steps towards making nutrition programs work well in addressing malnutrition and hunger problems.

Compostela Valley Province, Panabo City and the municipality of Nabunturan grabbed the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) awards given by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a ceremony held in Taguig City last month.

The province of Davao del Norte which had been a CROWN awardee for two consecutive years was among the five LGU candidates to the Nutrition Honor Award but failed to grab it.

Ungson, however, encouraged the provincial government of Davao del Norte to continue with its efforts in delivering services on nutrition. "Bukidnon took six years to finally win the honor award," she said in urging Davao del Norte to keep going.

"LGUs are showing good performance in nutrition. Sumisipa na ang Region 11," she said during the workshop. "On reports regarding hunger, we have proven that Mindanao is not that bad. We have to show our best in the region," she added.

Ungson noted that Compostela Valley showed strength in food production through establishing its 80-hectare "Lamdag sa Panginabuhi Center" which among others, produces crops and livestock for household distribution, also has buffalos producing milk especially for child-feeding program of the provincial government.

Ungson also saw strong support from the women sector which had been actively involvement in home food production, home-based livelihood among other activities which had significantly contributed to reduction of malnutrition problem.

"They (women) would usually say wala kami pambili pagkain dahil wala kami pera. Now they are made capable to earn a living to help provide for their families needs," she said.

Meanwhile, Nabunturan showed strength in implementing its health programs and that its municipal health officer played a vital role in it as the nutrition action officer, Ungso said.

They had also mobilized well the non-government organizations in the area and had even made the Rotary Club and Girls Scout get involved in nutrition activities, she added.

Panabo City got the CROWN by doing well in grassroot coordination down to the barangay level, in documentation and in NGO mobilization.