In the first major business conference organized by the newly established Baguio Business Club (BBC) last April 30, 2026, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong issued a serious alert about a major economic recession that has already hit this otherwise very prosperous tourism resort—an area that has been growing at an above-average rate compared to other regions in the country. Because of the ongoing economic crisis resulting from the U.S.–Iran war, which has sent food and transport prices to record levels, the usually full hotels, restaurants, and other destinations of both foreign and domestic tourists are empty. It is a situation that the Mayor described as even worse than the one that prevailed during the recent pandemic.

The resulting stagflation (low economic growth and high inflation) may drive numerous households belonging to the lower-middle-income level—specifically workers dependent on the tourism industry—to once again fall below the poverty line. In fact, some economists have already forecasted that the gains made in addressing poverty during the first half of the Marcos (BBM) Administration (dropping from 16 percent down to 13 percent) may be wiped out this year, with food inflation rising to double-digit levels of 10 percent to 15 percent. We may see more families all over the country, and especially in hard-hit Baguio, encountering serious difficulties in fighting off hunger, especially among children who are most adversely affected by malnutrition and undernutrition.

As Ma. Dhelyn dela Cruz and Sheic Sims of the Action for Economic Reforms recently wrote in this paper (April 27, 2026), stunting affects 23.6 percent of infants and young children, 17.9 percent of school-age children, and 20.7 percent of adolescents. Wasting affects 5.6 percent of infants and young children, 8.4 percent of school-age children, and 11.5 percent of adolescents. The decline in stunting in the Philippines is slower than in the rest of Southeast Asia. At this rate, reaching the zero malnutrition Sustainable Development Goal of 2030 seems unlikely.

That is why I did not have to think twice when the officers of the Baguio Business Club asked me what their first project should be to promote the common good of Baguio City and its surrounding environs. I told them to replicate the very successful Philippine Food Bank Foundation (PFBF) that is already operating in several areas like Metro Manila, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Davao City, San Fernando (Pampanga), and a few others.

As I wrote in some previous columns in this paper, it was in 2016 that a group of concerned business executives followed the lead of Supreme Pontiff Pope Francis, who called for the rejection of the “throw-away culture” prevalent in many advanced countries. The Pope, acutely aware of the Catholic social doctrine concerning the preferential option for the poor, appealed to food producers not to continue their practice of throwing away tens of millions of tons of surplus farm products and soon-to-expire processed food in factories, hotels, and restaurants while hundreds of millions of poor families in both developed and developing countries go to bed hungry every day.

Our first generous donor was Alaska Milk Corporation, then headed by CEO Fred Uytengsu. It was providential that I was then an Independent Director of the milk manufacturing enterprise. The Board generously responded to our request for soon-to-expire canned milk products, which are among the most precious sources of nourishment for the children of poor families. Then, the rest is history.

One after another, food manufacturers and eating establishments responded with generosity, enabling us to donate food to more than one hundred institutional beneficiaries—especially orphanages run by religious nuns, parishes, feeding clinics, public schools, and homes for the aged. Ten years later, the food bank is able to distribute donated surplus food equivalent to ₱12 million monthly. Among the notable and most regular donors are Starbucks, Jollibee, San Miguel Corporation, Century Pacific, Sari-Suki, Pan de Manila, Amici, Max’s, Mary Grace, Good Eats, Mr. Kabab, and San Antonio Marketing.

It has been heartwarming that the Philippine Food Bank Foundation has been receiving unsolicited offers from both local and foreign donors eager to help its projects and programs expand, not only within the NCR, but in various regions across the archipelago. As will soon happen in Baguio City, the food distribution program of the PFBF has been replicated in Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, and Pampanga. Civic organizations like the Rotary Clubs, and sports clubs like those at the Tagaytay Highlands, have been very generous in raising funds for the cash expenses (especially logistics) of the Foundation.

A recent development, which can also be replicated in other regions, is the way the food distribution program of the PFBF has metamorphosed into a collaborative effort among NGOs, schools, parishes, and other charitable organizations to actually prepare cooked food for thousands of hungry children and adults. A notable example of this initiative is Balik Lusog, a collaborative, community-driven food rescue initiative organized by the Philippine Food Bank Foundation in cooperation with the Loaves & Fishes Foundation (sponsored by the Rustan Coffee Corporation and the Starbucks Foundation, Inc.).

Launched in January 2026, the program feeds 500 malnourished and undernourished learners from Grades 3 to 6 at the Poblacion Elementary School (POBES) in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, daily during school days. By converting donated surplus and supplemental food items into high-nutrition meals, the program aims to improve the physical health (BMI) and academic performance of children living in vulnerable communities while avoiding food waste and environmental damage.

The program officially commenced on Janu. 24, 2026, with a launch event that underscored the strong multisectoral support for the initiative, and culminated on March 24, 2026, with a comprehensive report on the health and academic performance of the participating students. A distinct advantage of this type of hands-on feeding program is that there is clear proof that the so-called “triple burden” of malnutrition (undernutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiency) is being effectively addressed.

To illustrate the types of human resources that are critical in successfully carrying out a collaborative initiative of this nature, I shall identify the key persons and organizations who put their efforts together to implement the Balik Lusog program. In the initial planning stages, I (as Chair of the PFBF) and Ambassador Joseph M. Yap (Founder/Chairman of Loaves & Fishes) shared our insights and vision on food insecurity, malnutrition, education, and the environment. The COO of PFBF, Ms. Ayie Navarro, and the parish priest of San Pedro Calungsod Quasi-Parish, Fr. William P. Ramos, established a strong foundation of local ownership based on the social doctrine of the principle of subsidiarity.

Fr. William bridged the gap by reaching out to Ms. Karen Joy M. Daguiog, a dedicated parishioner and alumna of POBES who had recently joined the school’s staff. Recognizing the great potential for impact, Karen proposed the initiative to the School Principal, Dr. Jennifer S. Joson. Upon the approval of the program, Karen was appointed Program Director for Balik Lusog, ensuring that the project was led by a trusted member of the community.

For all the participants to be on the same page, several speakers during the launch gave insights into the mission-vision of the program. Dr. Joson and Dr. Ma. Myra E. Namit, District Supervisor of Muntinlupa schools, elaborated on the link between nutrition and learning, while Karen presented the operational details. Representing the business sector to manifest their strong support were Chris Po, Chairman of Century Pacific Group; Mr. Jim Fuentebella, Executive Director of Max’s Group, Inc.; Kim Lichauco, Executive Director of San Miguel Foundation; and John Francia, Head of AgriTech at Sari-Suki.

To make all the stakeholders keenly aware of the scientific dimensions of the initiative, Brother Lawrence Aikee R. Esmili, FSC, Vice Chancellor for Lasallian Mission and Development at De La Salle Dasmariñas, Cavite, introduced a seminar for parents and students. The session was conducted by Vilma Reyes and Gladys Jane Anicete, practicing nutritionists and dietitians from DLSU-D MC. The seminar served as a micro-credential on the fundamentals of family health.

When the program started, 500 malnourished students from Grades 3 to 6 were identified to participate. These children belong to families relocated from the railroad tracks, where they had been living as informal settlers. Facing significant socioeconomic challenges, these students were identified through a baseline assessment of:

1. Weight and height

2. Body Mass Index (BMI)

3. Initial academic performance

The Balik Lusog program operated on a "Food Rescue Kitchen" ecosystem, driven by volunteerism and efficient transport. The feeding program ran daily during school days from January 26 to March 19, 2026, spanning a total of 38 days.