Aboitiz, 6 Cebu schools work together to address malnutrition

MANILA, Philippines - Six public schools in Metro Cebu have partnered with the Aboitiz Foundation for the implementation of a school gardening program to bring down malnutrition among students.

Dubbed as “Oh My Gulay!” (OMG), an advocacy program of Sen. Edgardo Angara, the project seeks to enhance the nourishment of poor communities. It will develop and implement awareness campaigns and programs to fight malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies through vegetable cultivation, and promote the integration of vegetables in the regular diet of students. It also seeks to make available cheap and nutritious vegetables that would enhance the health of community residents.

To formalize the partnerships, Aboitiz Foundation EVP and managing trustee Sonny Carpio signed an agreement with Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Senator Angara and Dr. Mary Ann Sayoc of East-West Seeds for the adoption of six schools in Central Visayas to be the recipient of the OMG project.

The Foundation will provide planting materials and equipment to the following schools that will implement the project: Manduwang Elementary School in Minglanilla; Consolacion Central School, Lilo-an Central School, Cordova Central School, Naga Central School and Talisay Central School. East-West Seeds, on the other hand, will provide technical expertise on open-pollinated variety, a method of gardening that allows one to save seeds, among other benefits.

Aside from gardening, OMG also includes training teachers on the health benefits of vegetable consumption through an instructional module to be included in home economics classes. Other activities of the OMG include a tri-media awareness campaign on the nutritional benefits of vegetables, school gardening, feeding, and education programs in elementary and high schools.