The Pasig City local government relaunched on Tuesday, March 22, its Malusog na Batang Pasigueño (MBP) initiative to ensure that all its public school students will receive adequate nutrition especially amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and in preparation for the slow return of face-to-face classes.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto led the relaunch at Sagad High School wherein the city government distributed food packs to its students from kindergarten to senior high school, including Special Education (SPED) and Alternative Learning System (ALS) pupils.
Sotto said the main goal of MBP is to provide the basic nutrition requirements of pupils to stamp out malnutrition which could adversely affect their academic performance.
He added that each food pack contains items that have the "Sangkap Pinoy" seal or food items that have the three essential micronutrients -- Vitamin A, Iodine, and Iron -- that help prevent malnutrition and improve brain development.
The mayor assured his constituents that the local government will put additional focus on the implementation of MBP to sustain the program.
MBP was first launched on May 25 last year wherein 147,484 public elementary and high school students, SPED, and community-based ALS students received nutrition food packs every month.
“Nakaka-miss nga lang ang mga bata sa programa (PTA lang muna ang kasama sa launching). Sana makatulong ito sa mga pamilyang nangangailangan, lalo na ngayong pandemya.. higit sa lahat, para maipagpatuloy ng bawat Batang Pasigueño ang kanilang pag-aaral (I really miss the kids during these programs. I really hope that these nutrition packs could help those families who are in need and that all Batang Pasigueño could continue their studies),” Sotto said during MBP's launch.