44 children benefit from Army’s feeding program

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 19): 44 children benefit from Army’s feeding program

Some 44 identified malnourished kindergarten and elementary pupils of Jaena Norte Elementary School have benefited in Monday’s feeding program initiated by the Army’s 6th “PAGHILIUGYON” Light Armor Company based in Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz.

Maj. Russel V Mascardo, commander of the 6th Light Armor Company, said the activity proved to be beneficial. "We did not only gain new friends in the area but also promoted doing things together as partners.”

Mascardo said “little as it may seem, but the tangible results outweigh the cost and the effort that has been exerted. The children need not to express their gratitude yet a simple smile from them was enough to relieve everyone who participated in the activity.”

Segundina V. Fano, school principal, expressed the gratitude of other school staff and parents for the efforts of the "PAGHILIUGYON" troopers in addressing their concern. "Through this program, it only shows that the Army is always ready to give care to those who are in-need and ready to provide assistance when needed.”

Jaena Norte Elementary School is some 3 kilometers away from Camp Macario Peralta Jr. and considered to be a second home to 181 children mostly living near the municipal road and in interior communities of Brgy. Jaena Norte.

From the main road, the school is located on a plateau near a river about 300 meters away, accessible by foot or by a motorcycle plying a single 3-meter wide feeder road. In 2012, the Department of Education reported that 562,262 pupils in kindergarten and elementary levels (Grades 1 to 6) enrolled in public schools here have been considered “severely wasted.”

The feeding program was conducted with the help of the students’ parents, the faculty and staff of Jaena Norte Elementary School, who assisted in cooking and preparing the lugaw (congee) cooked with malunggay leaves (moringa) and topped-off with hard-boiled eggs.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=498963