Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos is flanked by former Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Health Asec. Nemesio Gako after receiving the 1st Year Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition Maintenance Award during the recently-concluded awarding of the National Nutrition Council at the Philippine International Convention Center.

The city was cited particularly for its sustained promotion of breastfeeding for infants and young children; the Mandaluyong Medical Center - Maternity and Children Section that offers free prenatal check-ups and lactation management sessions, as well as counselling to pregnant or nursing mothers; and the Manpower and Development Center that offers free skills/livelihood trainings to underprivileged families.

The city’s Nutrition Committee, headed by Nutrition Action Officer Menchie Abalos, also has significantly reduced underweight prevalence among school and preschool children in the last three years.

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos receives the trophy for Mandaluyong City being adjudged as Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition or CROWN Awardee during the 2013 National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony held recently at the Philippine International Convention Center.

The award is given by the National Nutrition Council to a local government unit that has won NNC’s Green Banner Award for three consecutive years of implementing outstanding programs in eradicating malnutrition as well as maternal and children mortality.

Also in photo are Assistant Secretary of Health and NNC Executive Director IV Maria-Bernardita Flores, Food & Nutrition Research Institute Director and NNC Technical Committee Mario Capanzana, Mandaluyong First Lady and City Nutrition Action Officer Menchie Abalos, Mandaluyong City Medical Center Director Dr. Zaldy Carpeso, Undersecretary for Health Dr. Nemesio Gako, National Dairy Authority Administrator Grace Cenas.

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos holds the first 2013 National Kabalikat Award Trophy given by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Sec. Joel Villanueva, TESDA Director General, conferred the national award to Mayor Abalos few moments after Mandaluyong City was declared back to back regional winner in the LGU Category of National Capital Region, in a ceremony held at TESDA-Taguig. Kabalikat Award is the highest recognition given by TESDA to any institutions or local government units as a reward mechanism in the promotion and enhancement of technical education and skills development.

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos receives from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry the award for Mandaluyong as this year's Most Business Friendly City (Highly Urbanized City Category) during the concluding rites of PCCI's Business Conference and Expo recently held at the Manila Hotel.

The award is annually conferred by PCCI to local government units that have instituted good governance reforms in promoting local trade and investment.

Also in photo (left to right), Amb. Alfredo Yao (39th PBC Chairman, PCCI Chairman, President & CEO of Zesto), Dr. Alfonso Siy (President of the Federation of the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.), Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Dr. Francis Chua (PCCI Chaiman Emeritus), Sec. Emilio Abaya (DOTC) and PCCI Pres. Miguel Varela.

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos (4th from left) receives plaques for winning two of the top ten Galing Pook Awards for Outstanding Local Governance Programs from Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas. Out of the 166 entries nationwide, two brainchild programs of Mayor Abalos were recognized by the prestigious Galing Pook Foundation for its innovativeness and great impact worthy of emulation by other local government units. The project Garden of Life Park (GLP), offering comparably lower fees, is a one-stop-shop concept: Funeral Services-Chapel-Crematorium-Columbarium-Cemetery and the Project T.E.A.C.H., providing free diagnostic services including therapy for children with handicap. Also shown in photo are Mandaluyong City First Lady Menchie Abalos, Ciara Marie Foundation President Charisse Abalos, Mandaluyong City Planning Officer Engr. Armand Comandao, Galing Pook officials and program partners.

Page 3 of 4
Show more post