Pres. Benigno Aquino III hands over to Mayor Melchor Petracorta the most coveted Galing Pook plaque. Photo courtesy of Malacañang Press Bureau

MAASIN CITY, SO. LEYTE – The Book of Proverbs 29:18 says “Where there is no vision the people perish.” This simple line could be Mayor Melchor Petracorta’s driving vision, as he led the small island town of Limasawa to national fame when his innovative nutrition program was hailed as one of the country’s “Galing Pook 2011” awardees. The town got the most coveted citation and usually, a prize of P1,000,000 in the form of projects come with it.
This, after Limasawa received the Highest Nutrition Award in 2011 in the country and bagged P 500,000 for the feat. Previous to that, Limasawa was the consistent regional level winner for three consecutive years.  The same innovative nutrition practice got the nod of the judges of the recent national Galing Pook Award. Limasawa is the only awardee in Eastern Visayas this year.
Limasawa is the second LGU in the region to win the prestigious and much-coveted award, the first being Palompon, Leyte in the ‘90’s for its program for a sustainable marine ecology, then under Mayor Ramon Oñate who has made a comeback.
Limasawa, a town of 5,800 residents, has almost achieved zero malnutrition among its schoolchildren and was able to encourage a majority, if not all, of its adults to adopt a healthy lifestyle. From having a high malnutrition rate six years ago among its schoolchildren, it was dramatically dropped to only 2.8% in 2011.
Limasawa, a 6th class municipality, has proven that being a “poor” town is not a hindrance to win national awards for its programs to improve the lot of its constituents. Limawasa is also known as the site of the first mass in the Philippines, where explorer Ferdinand Magellan first set foot over 400 years ago. It has also one of the best diving sites in the country.
Mayor Melchor Petracorta personally received the town’s Galing Pook award from Pres. Simon Benigno C. Aquino III together with the municipal council members on January 30 at the Rizal Ballroom in Malacañang Palace.
P-Noy, in his speech, lauded Limasawa’s achievement saying that “a poor municipality can effect a lot of positive change for its people if there’s cooperation among leaders and its residents. Limawasa, once a face of hunger and malnutrition, is now a town of healthy community.  Because of cooperation from all sectors, their feeding program and livelihood skills trainings are successful.”
The Galing Pook Awards aims to recognize innovations and excellence in local governance. Its ultimate goal is to help foster democratic governance, strengthen and professionalize government, and empower communities to encourage citizen participation in local governance. The award was instituted in October 1993 when the Local Government Code took effect.
Mayor Petracorta, in an interview before he left to receive the award, said the accolade was not his alone. “This is a collaboration of all agencies and a constituency that wants to ensure a healthy and nutritionally well community.”
Healthy citizens
are assets
An unknowing reader would probably think Mayor Petracorta is a doctor, with his vision of a healthy citizenry. But he is not. He is an accounting graduate and a barrister. Maybe, that is also why he thinks healthy citizens are “assets”.
In a previous interview with him, Petracorta said that for six years from 2005 – 2010, they made every effort to ensure that constituents in their municipality are all healthy and nutritionally well.
For three years, in 2005-2007, the town was a consistent Banner Year Awardee and became the recipient of the CROWN Award or the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition Award from 2008-2010.
To improve the nutritional status Limasawa’s folk and children, the Municipal Nutrition Council (MNC) launched different projects to address the concern.
Among these are the  “Gulay Bawat Bahay – Hahaba ang Buhay” where each family should plant vegetables and encourage their children to eat them.  They also started communal gardens using organic fertilizers dubbed as “Halaman ng Bayan Para sa Kalusogan ng Mamamayan”. There are also periodic contests like the “Tatay Ko Kaagapay sa Kalusogan” program for fathers and “On-the-Spot Cooking Contests” to come up with delicious and nutritious food from ingredients made available.
To make sure that infants are born nourished and their mothers healthy, they started a feeding program every Friday for pregnant women and periodic prenatal checkups.
They also encouraged the “4 o’clock habit” – group exercises among LGU workers and constituents and those who don’t join are fined. Incentives are also given to  “Biggest Losers”.
Also, after identifying the families with undernourished children, they set in motion the “Handog Tulong Alaga” where the families were consulted and made to suggest ways of how the local nutrition council can help them. Milk and eggs were also provided to the kids until they reached standard weight.
Mayor Petracorta said that they made the nutrition program inclusive, involving all – the LGU, well-off citizens and the program beneficiaries themselves.
“This award proves that when a community is united, focused and work together for a common goal, they can surpass difficulties and achieve their goals and dreams.  Having good and sustainable nutrition programs means a healthy and brighter future for the community.  We want to share these good nutrition practices to other LGU’s for a healthier Philippines,” said Mayor Petracorta.
To sustain the nutrition programs, they have the “Buntis Baby Bank” which is funded from fines imposed on illegal fishers and even from non-participation in the 4 o’clock habit. Ten percent of its income from diving fees also goes into the bank.
Another pride of
Southern Leyte
Limasawa’s feat is another feather on the cap of Southern Leyte. Governor Damian “Mian” Mercado said he is happy for Limasawa’s success, pledging the provincial government’s continued support to all its nutrition initiatives. Mercado is also the chairman of the Southern Leyte Provincial Nutrition Council.
For her part, National Nutrition Council regional coordinator Carina Santiago said that “I am really happy for Limasawa.  They really deserve the award.  My hats off to Mayor Petracorta and members of the Municipal Nutrition Committee, and of course to Governor Mercado and Congressman Roger Mercado.  May the award serve as inspiration and motivation to the rest of the local government units in the region to take up the cause against hunger and malnutrition by promoting and investing in nutrition programs in their communities.”
137 programs all over the country were submitted to this year’s Galik Pook Awards. Each were evaluated on its positive impact to society, promotion of people’s participation and empowerment, transferability and sustainability, and efficiency of program service delivery.
The winning programs this year are justice enhancement programs, innovative nutrition programs, and empowerment of indigenous people, among others.
Aside from Limasawa, 16 other LGUs were recognized. They are Barangay San Antonio, Pasig; Barangay Tangos in Baliwag, Bulacan; Sta. Cruz, Laguna; Bingawan, Iloilo; Cagwait, Surigao del Sur; Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur; and the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte.
Seven other LGUs in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) were also honored in a new category called “Galing Pook in ARMM”.
These are Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur; Sulu Province; Southwestern Ligawasan Alliance of Municipalities; Wao, Lanao del Sur; Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao; Bongao, Tawi-tawi; and Upi, Maguindanao.

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Limasawa named Galing Pook awardee for nutrition program