Talisay SP adopts DepEd's program

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City council during its regular session Tuesday adopted the Department of Education's program establishing vegetable gardens in all public elementary and high schools as part of its aim to address the malnutrition problem.

The newly approved resolution, signed by Mayor Socrates Fernandez, will be implemented in the city's grade and elementary schools.

Following reports that malnutrition was blamed for the poor performance of students in public schools, the DepEd together with the Department of Agriculture has recently implemented the Gulayan sa Paaralan project.

Based on the present statistics, 1.8 million students from 6,000 public elementary and high schools, representing 15 percent of all public schools in the country, have been considered in this project.

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro earlier explained that this project will continue until such time that the students will learn to eat fruits and vegetables.

Studies have shown that among Southeast Asians, the Philippines ranks lowest in vegetable consumption at 40 kilograms per head each year.

The Food and Nutrition Research Council also reports that 26 in every 100 Filipino children aged six to 10 years are underweight for their age.

"Malnutrition is the biggest problem leading to low academic performance of students," read the resolution, sponsored by Councilor Dennis Basillote, chairman on council committee on Education.

Talisay, in 2008, was ranked by the National Nutrition Council for having the highest number of malnourished pre-schoolers in the entire region. - THE FREEMAN