By: Rodrigo S. Victoria
NAVAL, Biliran – An official of the health department in the Eastern Visayas region disclosed that the capital town in this province is assured of the nomination into the hall of fame in the Red Orchid Award.
Dr. Eduardo V. Pedrosa, chief of the non-communicable disease cluster of the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 8 revealed the information in an interview during the 5K Fun Run dubbed “Dagan Kontra Tabako, Kontra Droga, Kontra Alta Presyon, Kontra Basura Alang sa Kinabuhi” held on February 23, 2013 in the municipality.
Pedrosa who personally joined and finished the 5K Fun Run together with other DOH-8 staff said that Naval is assured to the hall of fame in the Red Orchid Award since the municipality is the only nominee in Eastern Visayas.
He informed that Naval is included in the list of nominees of local government units in Region 8 which will receive the Red Orchid Award for 2013.
The municipalities of Pintuyan, San Juan, Libagon, Anahawan and Naval are the nominees for the DOH Red Orchid Award in 2013, Pedrosa said.
It was learned that the municipality of Naval under the leadership of Mayor Susan V. Parilla has already received the Red Orchid Award from the DOH for two consecutive years from 2011 and 2012.
A local government unit will be conferred the Red Orchid Award after it is found by the evaluating team from the DOH to have effectively, efficiently and successfully implemented its anti-smoking campaign, programs and projects and activities.
Meanwhile, the winners for the 5K Fun Run are as follows: 1st place-John Balber, a criminology student from the Naval State University;2nd place-Mario Caparro, a member of the Philippine National Police and 3rd place-Agapito Bantad, an employee of the PMPC.
Special awards were given to Daria Delos Reyes as the sexiest runner; Yolanda Opena of the Mayor’s Office as the oldest runner; Kyle Latoja, nine-year old as the youngest runner; and the Latoja family as the family runner. (PIA-Biliran)