Supplemental feeding in Catbalogan gets a twist

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
July 22, 2010

CATBALOGAN CITY  –  Some 30 malnourished children in Barangay 7, Catbalogan City have been reporting to the barangay hall for their daily ration of nutritious food sponsored by the city government and Makulay ang Buhay feeding program with commercial partners.

Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Antonia Lomboy told PIA that the feeding program that started in April until September this year is a blessing.

“When I see the kids in the streets, I tell them to go to the barangay hall to get food“, she told PIA.

The invitation is well received and kids would start coming in, bringing with them their own dish and plastic tumblers for their food and milk.

The menu varies from day to day, and is provided by the commercial partners. The kids get to have each day a glass of milk too.

In June, 25 of the kids with below normal weight has normalized, Lomboy proudly reported.

Barangay Chairman Jun Tenedero said partners like the police and Girl Scouts have also assisted the program in their own little way. “This is a partnership of almost every one,” Tenedero added.

Yesterday, July 21 was a special day to the kids, one special patron by the name of Enzo Yu sponsored chicken and spaghetti from Jollibee for them and some 150 children more.

The kids wore their best clothing and some toothless smiles as they ate with the Jolibee mascot.

But Lomboy led them to sing a happy birthday song first before the youngsters devoured their special birthday meal.

Norma Ramirez who is a mother of three malnourished kids and a regular assistant of BNS Lomboy took all her children to the party.

“Di gud kami hini mam nakakatilaw hit jolibee (We can’t afford this type of food),” Norma said trying to restrain her brood of five that had started scampering for the choice chicken cuts. She also did not miss the opportunity to pose with Jollibee and her children.

Enzo Yu took a sneak peek at the children, just smiled without saying a word and left the eating children shortly.

Chairman Tenedero said Yu is a regular donor of the barangay and has been supporting the feeding program in the past years.