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Directors Bio 3471 2756

AZUCENA MILANA-DAYANGHIRANG, MD, MCH, CESO III
ASSISTANT SECRETARY and EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL

Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang is an experienced public health leader. For the past 29 years, she has been a facilitator and a trainer for various health programs particularly on Maternal Child Health and Nutrition. She has served the people of Davao as City Nutrition Action Officer from 1991-1995; Chief of the Technical Services Division and Medical Officer VI of Davao City Health Office from 1996 to 2005; as well as the Provincial Health Officer II and Provincial Nutrition Action Officer of Davao del Sur from 2008 to 2016.

During her stint in the local government, she led the City Nutrition Committee in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health and nutrition programs. She initiated the “Fresh Milk Supplemental Feeding Program,” which led to the reduction of protein-energy malnutrition among 0-6-year-old children. She also successfully lobbied for the regularization of 32 Nutritionist-Dietitians deployed in the 16 Districts of Davao City in 1996.

In 2016, she was elected as the National President of the Nutrition Action Officers' Association of the Philippines (NAOPA), Inc. Shortly after, she was appointed as Deputy Executive Director of the National Nutrition Council (NNC), an attached agency of the Department of Health, Philippines. In August 2019, Dr. Dayanghirang was appointed as the Executive Director of the NNC. Currently, she is designated as the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Philippines Government Focal Point and most recently, appointed as a member of the Executive Committee of the Global Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement representing Asia and Papua New Guinea.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed the appointment of Dr. Dayanghirang to Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) Rank III effective 3 December 2020. Recently, she was upgraded to Executive Director IV with the rank of Assistant Secretary as approved by President Duterte through Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea on 21 July 2021.

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Assistant Secretary and Executive Director IV Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang, together with OIC Deputy Executive Director Atty. Rosalina Bascao and Nutrition Officer II Ms. Enah Eunice Calanog, paid a courtesy call visit with Congressman Jose Maria Zubiri Jr., District Representative of Bukidnon and Congressman Nelson Dayanghirang, District Representative of Davao Oriental, last 9 November 2022 at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.

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NNC Assistant Secretary and Executive Director IV Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang was invited by former Senator and DILG Secretary Joey Lina to present NNC’s initiatives during the lunch meeting held at The Manila Hotel Red Jade Restaurant last 6 October 2022. The said meeting was also attended by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo, DILG Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez, and private sector representatives from the Rotary District of 3830, Kiwanis, Lions, and Junior Chamber International (JCI). The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the current hunger and malnutrition situation of the country and come up with ways to address it.

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NNC Executive Director and Assistant Secretary Azucena M. Dayanghirang was invited as one of the resource speakers  of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) in their Women’s Dialogue on September 20, 2022 held at Sequoia Hotel, Quezon City.

The said event was participated by women leaders from urban and peri-urban areas, women-lead organizations ( CSOs and NGOs) , women officers and members of the  Agricultural and Fishery Councils , National Government Agencies and  representatives of the Department of Agriculture . Said occasion served as a venue to identify policy gaps and supportive policies that are needed to create a favorable enabling environment for planned way forward initiatives relative to food security , nutrition and environmental stewardship .

Asec. Apet Dayanghirang shared the topic on “ Women as Catalytic Partners in Food Security, Environmental Stewardship and Nutrition.”

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28 September 2022

National Nutrition Council, Executive Director and Assistant Secretary Azucena M. Dayanghirang , together with her Deputy Director Rita Papey and the Division Chiefs convened in a meeting with the team from the Office of the Vice- President at the NNC- Office of the Executive Director’s Conference Room.

In attendance to the said meeting from the OVP were Atty. Zuleika Lopez Chief of Staff -OVP, Atty. Lucky Ebrole , Mr. Norman Baloro , Chief for Local Affairs & Special Projects , Liezel Ilagan and Ain Arienza both OVP staff.

As the OVP started the roll-out of its socio-economic services through the Satellite Offices located in Bacolod , Cebu, Dagupan , Davao , Tacloban , Surigao and Zamboanga , it intends to expand further to reach unserved areas through the OVP Kalusugan Food Truck which will serve as mobile kitchen for national programs and disaster response activities .

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The Central Visayas Regional Nutrition Committee in partnership with Central Visayas Nutrition Action Officers Association, Inc. culminated its 48th Nutrition Month Celebration  with the 2022 Grand Nutrition Awards back to back with the Regional Congress of Nutrition Action Officers ( NAOs) last September 16, 2022 at Robinsons summit Galleria Hotel , Cebu City with the theme ; “ Kalig-ong Nutrisyon , susi sa pagtukod ug mas maayong bag-ong NAOrmal”

The event highlighted the recognition of the different local government units and local nutrition focal points who had shown exemplary performance which contributed to the improvement of the Central Visayas nutrition situation , specifically in their respective communities.

NNC Executive Director and Assistant Secretary Azucena M. Dayanghirang graced the said event as their  Keynote Speaker .

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National Nutrition Council conducted its three-day Management Conference for the 3rd quarter of 2022 on September 19-22 , 2002 in Lucky China Town Hotel , Manila.

The said Management Conference aims to assess the accomplishments of the National Nutrition Council for the 3rd quarter both in Administrative and Financial status . It was a brainstorming and planning session to its way forward to ending 2022. It was an avenue to scale out future plans and programs in preparation of Fiscal Year 2023.

 The conference was presided by the workaholic and dedicated Executive Director and Assistant Secretary Azucena M. Dayanghirang and was attended by the Deputy Executive Directors , Division Chiefs and all Nutrition Program Coordinators from the different Regional Offices.