Leyte placed more children under 120-day feeding program

By Provincial Media Relations Center (PMRC Leyte)
November 18, 2008

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  "We have to realize that poor health stunts the physical and mental development of children seriously affecting their full potential to become productive citizens.”

Thus was the statement of Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla during a visit to barangays in Jaro, Leyte where the provincial government is currently conducting a 120-day feeding program under its Clothe and Feed the Hungry Children being undertaken by the Provincial Nutrition Office.

Gov. Petilla said this particular program, which is presently implemented in ten identified nutritionally depressed areas in the province, has been designed to be a holistic supplementary feeding program, the PBPFP will not only feed the children-beneficiaries, but will also conduct mothers’ classes and parenting seminars, an approach taken with the end-view of delivering a total parenting package.

Parents, especially mothers, he said, are being tapped as partners in managing the feeding proper wherein they are expected to do marketing, cooking and feeding the children-beneficiaries.

Children identified to be part of this program are between the age range of 0-6 years old.

In five different barangays in Jaro, Leyte, 126 children were given free nutritional feeding, as part of the 120-day program, and personally visited by the governor where he again stressed to parents who came to the assigned central feeding centers and areas that they would need to continue the efforts in maintaining proper nutrition among their children.

“Since natikangan na ini, kinahanglan liwat ipadayon han aton mga kag-anak kay diri kami asta hit kahasta aanhi mag-feeding. We would also need to go to other barangays in the province needing the same service,” the governor said.

Earlier, it was reported that the national government is proposing an increase from P2.5 billion to P3.34 billion budget allocation for the 2009 General Appropriations Bill. This is for "Malusog na Simula, Yaman ng Bansa" nutrition program.