More pre-schoolers avail of Makulay ang Buhay program
More pre-school children aged three to six years old are availing of the Makulay ang Buhay ng Batang Pinoy Supplemental Feeding Program by the Kabisig ng Kalahi and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
DSWD Field Office 6 Nutritionist and Dietician Sally Gayoma said the program was launched recently (November 20, 2009) in Bacolod City covering a total of 150 children.
“Bacolod City is the third area in the region covered by the program after the municipalities of Tangalan and Makato in Aklan province. Thirty children each from the barangays of Banago, Taculing, Tangub, Handumanan and Estefania in Bacolod City will be given nutritious food and milk everyday for six months. Each barangay will have a budget of P60,000 each to implement the program,” she said.
Dianne Sadorra, Program Coordinator of the non-government organization Kabisig ng Kalahi, said the program is conducted nationwide. The program is supported by Unilever Philippines and Mead Johnson Nutrition.
“The program aims to help the parents provide their children with nutritious food and milk so they will be properly nourished,” said Sadorra.
Gayoma said each child is an asset of the society and they should be properly nourished so they will grow and develop to their full potentials.
“We still advocate breastfeeding for infants and children at an early age. But when a child grows, his/her body needs all the essential nourishments,” Gayoma said.
“Aged three to six years is a critical period in a child’s life. So the quality of the child’s food intake must be properly supervised. If the child is malnourished, this will affect his/her brain cell development,” she added.
For her part, Social Welfare Officer IV Consuelo Yaun of Bacolod City, said the program is strongly supported by the local government.
“Bacolod has always been a child-friendly city. We want every kid in Bacolod City to be ‘bright child.’ And we need the cooperation of the parents and health workers to ensure the success of this program,” Yaun said.
Present during the program launching were Bacolod City Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and City Councilors Celia Matea Flor and Homer Bais.
