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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.

Ceremonial Handing Over of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 22-868

Details
Category: Directors Corner

0407 Ceremonial Handing

On 4 April 2022, Assistant Secretary and Executive Director Azucena M. Dayanghirang traveled to Barangay Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur for the ceremonial handing over of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 22-868 which expresses the August Body’s profound appreciation and gratitude to Asec. Dayanghirang for her unwavering support to the Province of Davao del Sur.

Asec. Dayanghirang was the province's Provincial Health Officer II before her appointment to the National Nutrition Council - Department of Health. After having been informed of the status of the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital, she immediately reached out to assist for the early resolution of the current situation of the said hospital.

The Province of Davao del Sur honored Asec. Dayanghirang's outstanding efforts and support in restoring the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital's Level II License to Operate. Her dedication to providing high-quality medical services to the public had a significant impact on many people's lives, notably the health of the affected 9 municipalities and 1 component city in Davao del Sur. Indeed, Asec. Dayanghirang doesn’t limit herself when it comes to serving the public.

Further, USec. Atty. Charade B. Mercado-Grande was also honored with a plaque, which was presented to Asec. Dayanghirang on her behalf. As the Health Undersecretary, Atty. Grande stepped in without hesitation to help restore the Provincial Hospital's license to operate from infirmary to level II status. With the Level II classification, constituents, especially those living below the poverty line, can now take advantage of the services the medical institution offers, such as free consultations, admissions, diagnostic tests, and surgical procedures.

The National Nutrition Council extends its warmest congratulations to Undersecretary Atty. Charade B. Mercado-Grande and Assistant Secretary and Executive Director Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang for this valuable accomplishment and exemplary work.

 

Author: OED - Pam Pescador