The municipality has bested the 16 other local government units in the Best Local Health Offices and Best Communal Garden, the Highest Coverage in Operation Timbang Plus (OPT Plus) and the Lowest Prevalence of Malnutrition.

“Among my seven-point development agenda were education and health because I understand that these two important things will propel a small town into what is developing now,” said Sapian mayor lawyer Jose O. Villanueva during the awarding ceremony.

The mayor stressed that the nutrition program of the LGU was among those with big funding at P1 million when he assumed as local chief executive in 2022.

“You cannot expect a good learner who is malnourished. Therefore it is my policy to put important emphasis on nutrition,” he noted.

Further, Dumarao town was 2nd and Roxas City was 3rd placer for the OPT Plus Award.

The top Local Nutrition Action Officer Awardees were Dao town health nurse Michelle Urzos (1st), Sapian midwife Luisita Legarda (2nd), and Dumalag Municipal Health Officer Dr. Ana Mae Belasoto (3rd).

The PHO also cited a Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Barbara Venus of Brgy. Sto. Anghel in Dumalag the Outstanding Provincial Barangay Nutrition Award during the program.

“Let me commend you for a job well done in so far as the nutrition of our province is concerned. You are all heroes of our nutrition program,” said Gov. Fredenil H. Castro, who graced the awarding ceremony.