Ubay opts for single day in its twin-celebrations

ooSOME people hardly find the connection, but here in Ubay, Bohol , local government officials find the connection symbolic. World Population day was celebrated July 31, 2006 at the Ramon Magsaysay Gymnasium here in time of the culmination program of the Nutrition month. While World Population Day has “Young People” as its theme, this year's Nutrition month bears, “Kumain ng right, para maging batang bright”. There is the unwitting connection. Ubay's twin-celebrations focused on the youth, which comprise more than half of the nation's population.

The affair attracted a large number of teachers, students and pupils coming from different public and private schools, barangay officials, barangay health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, local officials, national and local employees, NGOs and the general public. Activities for the twin-celebrations include slogan and poster making contests, sayawit contest and an inter-agency volleyball tournament in the morning. Student winners got cash awards on different contest initiated by the rural health unit.

Mayor Eutiquio Bernales recognized the sincere display of committee commitment and awarded plaques of recognition and cash amounts of five thousand pesos each barangay making it to the top five barangay nutrition committees (BNC). Awarded were Tuburan, Imelda, Poblacion, Cuya and San Franciso.

Meanwhile, Barangay Chairman Nazario Avenido of Humayhumay took home two cash awards. One was from Cong. Roberto Cajes for bagging the top Barangay Nutrition Council in the second district for two consecutive years as per evaluation rating conducted by provincial nutrition committee. He also took a ten thousand cash award from the LGU. Mayor Bernales was also ecstatic when the Rurual Health Unit rose to number nine province-wide compared to a dismal twenty sixth rank las year. Credited for the success are rural health physicians: Dr. Retchi Del Mar and Dr. Edgardo Ladera.

The town also recognized the efforts of Basilides Pepino, a municipal nutrition action officer who also got a recipient of a certificate of recognition awarded by Provincial nutrition committee. The coronation rites of the Little Miss Nutrition 2006 also highlighted the program in the afternoon. Bingo socials were also conducted, its proceeds to help the town's feeding program for malnourished children, Bernales said. Initiated by the LGU of Ubay, the activity gained all-through-out support from all the schools and barangays of the town.

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