6 Zamboanga towns ‘adopt’ Grace Poe

• Source: http://www.journal.com.ph/news/provincial/6-zamboanga-towns-adopt-grace-poe
• Thursday, September 17, 2015

By Bernadette E. Tamayo

SIX municipalities in Zamboanga del Sur have declared Sen. Grace Poe as their “adopted daughter” in recognition of her efforts to eradicate malnutrition among Filipino children.

The municipalities of Dumingag, Tigbao, Bayog, Mahayag and Tukuran, all in Zamboanga del Sur, issued resolutions “declaring Sen. Mary Grace Sonora Poe-Llamanzares as adopted daughter for her efforts to pass a measure, Senate Bill No. 79, aimed at addressing the fight against hunger and malnutrition among children.”

A UNICEF report revealed that 3.6 million Filipino children aged 0 to 59 months are underweight while four million are stunted.

Poe said malnutrition remains a huge challenge in the Philippines despite economic growth in recent years.

Under SBN 79 or the “Sustansiya sa Batang Pilipino Act,“ children enrolled in all public kindergarten and elementary schools will be given nutritious meals five days a week for 120 days a year, for the next five years.

The program, which received a P3.2 billion funding this year, is expected to benefit two million malnourished and severely wasted children. It is the first time a feeding initiative will be carried out extensively.

Last July, the municipality of Bagac in Bataan issued a similar resolution recognizing Poe’s efforts to “uplift the health of the people” in the country’s poorest regions.

“Nakakataba naman po ng puso ang pag-ampon na ito ng ating mga kababayan sa Zamboanga del Sur at Bataan. Siguro naman po ay walang magkakaso sa akin tungkol dito?” said Poe.

“Nakakatuwang isipin na ang mga ginagawa natin sa Senado ay umaabot sa bawat sulok ng Pilipinas. Ito po ang tunay na hangad natin bilang isang public servant,” she added.

Bagac, Bayog and Mahayag are third-class municipalities; Tukuran is fourth-class, Tigbao is fifth-class, and Dumingag second-class -- all have a significant population of malnourished children that will benefit from the feeding program.