CANDON CITY, April 7 – – Seventy malnourished and stunted children age three and up in selected barangays here have started their 120-day milk feeding program under Project G.A.T.A.S (Galak At Tangkad para sa pag-Angat na Sagot sa malnutrisyon ng mga chikiting ng Candon City), a program initiated by Ilocos Sur Second District Representative Kristine Singson, in partnership with the city government.
Launched on March 19, Project G.A.T.A.S. aims to enhance the city’s preschoolers’ at risk nutritional intake through the promotion of locally produced milk and milk products, thus, timely in addressing the issue of poverty by rescuing the children from malnutrition and stunting.
Said beneficiaries are from selected barangays of the city with the highest number of recorded malnourished children, namely, barangays Bagani Campo, Bagani Tocgo, Bagani Ubbog, Calaoaan, Calongbuyan, Paras, Paypayad, Langlangca 1st, Caterman, Allangigan 1st and Allangigan 2nd, respectively.
“From the feedback that we are getting from the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and the parents, the kids are loving the milk. We expect an increase in their weight during the monthly weigh in. The kids are more active and lively now,” Rep. Singson said.
She added that they have plans to duplicate the project in the remaining barangays depending on the number of underweight and stunted preschoolers identified.
Aside from the health benefits of the project to the beneficiaries, Rep. Singson said that the program will also benefit the farm workers as it will lead to an increase in demand for milk.
“The milk is extracted from imported dairy cows and pasteurized and bottled in a local dairy farm,” she said.
Rep. Singson added that during this outbreak of COVID-19, proper nutrition should not be neglected especially for the children, thus, the project aims to eliminate cases of malnutrition and stunting among preschoolers at risk brought by the pandemic.
“Para sa mga chikiting na araw-araw na tumatanggap ng gatas, natutuwa ako na nagugustuhan ninyo ito at nawa ito ay makapagdulot sa inyo ng mas maayos na kalusugan. Salamat din sa mga magulang at mga BNS na nakikipagtulungan sa atin sa programang ito. Lubos akong nagagalak dahil sa inyong suporta sa ating mga programa at malasakit sa ating mga kabataan,” Rep. Singson added.
Undeniably, 120 days is too short to see progress but she said that the project also aspires to teach their families the nutritional benefits of milk for their children.
Moreover, a simple program will take place with the awarding of the most gained weight achieved by the selected barangay after the recipients’ completion of the milk feeding program.
