A healthy lifestyle always wins!

Such has been proven true by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as it bagged this year’s Healthy Lifestyle in the Workplace Award given by the Apolitical Group Limited for its “The Biggest Loser, DSWD Edition” campaign.

Apolitical, a non-profit organization in UK which serves as a learning platform for government, bestows the Award to teams, departments, or initiatives that are leading action to improve the physical health of team members. This could be through department wide policy or creative schemes that promote or facilitate a healthy lifestyle, whether through exercising, healthy eating, or building a healthier work environment.

The Biggest Loser, DSWD Edition was launched in January 2019 as part of the Department’s 68th Anniversary Celebration.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Rhea Peñaflor, who initiated the campaign, said, “Our main goal in launching the Biggest Loser is to give back to our employees.  Since DSWD is the agency which aims at improving the well-being of our fellow Filipinos, our colleagues also need to be healthy as they are the primary service providers.  With this in mind, I sought the help of celebrity fitness coaches Toni and Jim Saret to assist the Department in starting the healthy lifestyle movement in DSWD.”

DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista was also pleased to know that the fitness and wellness initiative of the Department was recognized.

“Alam niyo naman ang DSWD, 24/7 yan. Any time of the day, pag kailangan magpunta at magreact sa isang insidente, ay kailangan preparado yan. Ang importante dito ay magkakaroon ng awareness ang bawat isa, yung kung gaano kaimportante ang malusog na katawan at malusog din ang kaisipan,” he said citing the importance of being fit and healthy.

Some 39 employees signed up for this year’s inaugural challenge of the Biggest Loser, DSWD Edition.  After three months of a healthy lifestyle regimen provided by the coaches, the Biggest Loser participants’ weight loss ranged from 6 to 21 kilos.

Assistant Secretary Peñaflor added, “Aside from the number of kilos lost, the process they went through and the joy they experienced because of the program were also important. We thank coaches Jim and Toni Saret because despite being busy people, they guided the participants every day, and they also committed to helping the contestants achieve a healthy lifestyle.”

She also emphasized that the big change from the participants was not on the physical appearance alone, but on the self-esteem that they gained and their improved determination to perform their jobs.

DSWD’s Biggest Loser winner, Domingo Lerio, a security guard who lost 21 kilos, said, “More than the weight I lost, the lessons of a healthy lifestyle, the support of my new-found friends, and the advice given by the coaches to focus on self-worth were also important.”

DSWD bested the entries of six other countries, namely: Rwanda, Canada, Singapore, Lagos, United Kingdom, and Queensland State Government. ###