Loren urges enhanced feeding program for school children

MABITAC, LAGUNA – NOTING THAT MORE THAN FOUR MILLION FILIPINO CHILDREN ARE CONSIDERED UNDERNOURISHED AND MALNOURISHED, SEN. LOREN LEGARDA TODAY ADVOCATED A BIGGER AND SUSTAINED FEEDING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Speaking before municipal and barangay officials here, Loren said that in giving priority to education, the government should also pay more attention to improving the health of rural and community residents, especially the children.
Loren said that she would push through her proposals to institute a universal health care from the urban down to the rural and barangay levels, and boost the feeding program for children through the schools as long as she remains in public service.
Loren, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, is running for vice president as guest candidate of the Nacionalista Party, in tandem with NP presidential candidate Sen. Manny Villar.
Loren told her audience that she had filed two bills in the Senate, one proposing a universal health care for Filipinos and another enlarging the school feeding program for children to combat malnutrition which is prevalent among them. She said she will pursue her efforts in whatever position she finds herself in public service.
Loren said that the children should be provided with nutritious food, like vegetables, fruits and meat so that they could improve their health and develop healthy minds and bodies.
Loren also said that the planting of fruit trees and vegetable gardens would improve the environment of the community, thus helping fight climate change.
Loren spoke during the turnover of school buildings constructed from her community development funds in the fourth district of Laguna before national and local officials headed by Congressman Edgar San Luis, Mabitac Mayor Gerardo Fader and Vice Mayor Jacqueline Rose R. Carpio.
Also present were Mayors Juanita Mansanas of Pangil, Charles Vipops of Pakil and Ariel Magcalas of Sta. Cruz, Laguna and members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Liga ng Mga Barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan, District Engineers Manuel Y. Alejo Jr. and Roberto R. Bernardo.
The occasion was the town’s tradition of local officials and leading citizens throwing coins to the people in celebration of January 6, Three Kings Day, called “Pasabog”.
In their speeches, Congressman San Luis and Mayor Fader praised Senator Legarda’s concern for the welfare of the people of Laguna, and to the people of the country, especially the poor, the underprivileged and the children.
Luntiang Pilipinas will also embark on three ‘carbon sequestration projects’ in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao covering 5,000 hectares to control carbon emissions.
Also on tap are the setting up of a national tree nursery in Los Baños together with the Bureau of Plant Industry, as well as municipal nurseries in Antique and Iloilo.
Apart from these, Luntiang Pilipinas would also lead efforts to plant trees along major roadways, such as the North and South Expressways.
In the urban areas, it will coordinate with local governments and the Metro Manila Development Authority to plant trees along road islands and to set up urban tree parks and campus forest parks.
She urged Filipinos to support reforestation projects, whether these are government-initiated or private efforts.
Loren emphasized that “more than the actual number of trees we plant, what is more important is to instill in the minds of present and future generations that we have to save the environment while there is still time.”