Makati to distribute P97.3M grocery items to students

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government on Wednesday said it has allotted P97.3 million for the Christmas grocery giveways to the city's 97,000 public school students.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said each public school student from preschool to high school, including K to 12 students, will be getting one grocery bag as their Christmas gift this December.

Binay said the Makati City Council has approved City Ordinance No. 2013-A-020 appropriating P97,359,000 for the project that seeks to bring Christmas cheer to the students and their families. The amount will be taken from the city’s savings on its 2012 budget, Binay said.

“Each Pamasko bag will contain food items, mostly energy-packed foods and drinks, that will provide students much-needed nourishment for their healthy growth,” Binay said.

Binay also disclosed that the Center for Health Development of the Department of Health (CHD-DOH) has expressed their support to the program, strongly endorsing the proposed contents of each Pamasko bag for their nutritional value.

In his letter to Binay, Dr. Eduardo Janairo, regional director of CHD-DOH, congratulated the city government for spearheading the project, stating that the gifts will “provide students nutrients for their increasing physiological needs as adolescents.”

Janairo also affirmed that the activity does not violate any policies, guidelines and related laws on Infant and Young Child Feeding of the DOH.

Binay wrote Janairo, thanking him and his office for the support and endorsement of the project.

“As always, we assure you that the city government continually strives to promote the health and well-being of the youth, especially our public school students who need proper nutrition to be effective learners,” the mayor said.

“We are spending P1,000 each for our public schoolchildren so everyone will bring home their Pamasko Bags containing food items such as raisins, oatmeal, cheese, choco chips, powdered choco milk, arroz caldo, champorado, milk drink, tonic food drink, crackers, cereals, cookies, bread sticks among others,” Binay said.

Binay added that the Center for Health Department of the Department of Health (CHD-DOH) expressed its support to the program and strongly endorses the planned distribution of the Pamasko Bags to the public school students.