Indigent children get free food, toothpaste and toothbrushes

CEBU, Philippines - At least 200 children from the depressed area of sitio Mahayahay, barangay Poblacion, Talisay City were given free food by Minority Councilors Danny Caballero and Val Ylanan and toothbrushes and toothpaste by a group of reporters.

It may seem early politicking, but Caballero said the project is to help the city's indigent children stay away from malnutrition.

"Wa na tay labot kung unsay issue aning atong project basta ang importante, gisugdan na nato ug bisag kinsa pwede kaayo mosunod para mas daghan ang makabenepisyo," said Caballero in an interview.

For his part, Ylanan said one of the purposes of this project, which the minority councilors have started in the different villages of the city, is to educate the parents of these children on the importance of greens in their diet.

"Kahibaw na ta nga mahal na ang bugas. Pwede ra man maglugaw ta nya sagulan lang og kamunggay o bisag unsa pang utanon. Molami naman na, sulbad pa ang malnutrition," Ylanan said.

Malnutrition still exists in some barangays in the city, hence both Ylanan and Caballero vowed to continue their cause.

It was the barangay through Villarante and Bonjoc who picked the Mahayahay children, which according to records has cases of malnourished children too, as beneficiaries of the project.

Villarante said the area is swelling with children from families whose main income is fishing and trisikad (pedal-powered tricycle) driving.

The project was also in coordination with the Media in Cebu South, a group of reporters assigned in the first district, which distributed toothbrushes and toothpaste to the children.

Vincie Monterde, MICS vice-president (internal), said his group chose toothbrush to promote regular toothbrushing among children.

"Tan-aw gud sa grupo murag ang pagpanutbrush para ra sa mga kwartahan. Mao ng ang grupo nakahuna-huna og hatag og libreng toothbrush alang sa mga kabus nga bata," Monterde said.