Makati gives 'Pamasko' bags to students

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government started distributing 'Pamasko' bags filled with food certified by the Department of Health to the city's 97,000 students in 3,200 public elementary and highschools.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said each bag contains energy-packed foods and drinks that children are usually fond of, providing them an enjoyable yet nutritious treat this Christmas.

“We have made sure that all the contents of our Christmas gift bags are child-friendly. In fact, the Center for Health Development of the Department of Health has given its approval on the project, especially for its nutritional impact on our schoolchildren,” Binay said.

The Christmas gift-giving project for Makati’s schoolchildren is being implemented by the city government for the first time this year.

Binay said the city government decided to expand its traditional Pamaskong Handog gift-giving project, which has benefited Makati residents and city government employees for several years now since the term of then Makati Mayor and now Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Each Christmas bag for the students contain food products such as raisins, oatmeal, cheese, choco chips, powdered choco milk, arroz caldo, champorado, tonic food drink, crackers and cookies, cereals, and bread sticks, among others. All public elementary and high schools are distributing the goods simultaneously starting today to ensure that all beneficiaries receive them before the Christmas break.

The traditional Pamasko bag, on the other hand, contains T-shirts and 26 assorted canned goods such as corned beef, sausages and sardines. Distribution has also started at the City Hall Quadrangle, with senior citizens getting their share as early as Dec. 2, coinciding with the distribution of their year-end cash gift.

Makati, through a nutrition program, has managed to lower its malnutrition prevalence rate, which has been reduced further from 0.90 in 2012 to 0.73 this year.