In the Philippines, particularly in poor districts, a lot of children go to school with an empty stomach. Many of these kids still wish to go to school even if they are hungry, in hopes that they can learn something and eventually fulfill their dreams.
Photo credit: Philippine History and Architecture – Facebook / Virtual Pinoy
Growing up as a poor kid himself, Manila Mayor-elect Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso wants to bring back the nutribun and milk through a feeding program, particularly in elementary schools under his jurisdiction. Under this feeding program, the government will provide nutritious food for students from Grades 1 to 6, to ensure that no kid will ever be hungry in school.
“Marami sa mga mag-aaral natin na pumapasok sa paaralan na walang laman ang tiyan at gutom, dala na rin siguro ng hirap ng buhay. Alam ko po ang pakiramdam na iyon sapagkat isa rin po ako sa mga batang pumapasok na walang laman ang tiyan,” Mayor Isko said.
“Kaya po ang pangarap natin sa lungsod ng Maynila ay maibalik ang Nutribun at gatas sa loob ng paaralan.”
Photo credit: Isko Moreno Domagoso / Facebook
The mayor definitely knows what he’s talking about as he had a first-hand experience with going to school with an empty stomach.
In his elementary and high school days, Isko used to collect trash and various junk items in dumpsites for food and some extra cash. Thus, he easily understands the hardships of the poor families who have to send their children to school even if they didn’t have any breakfast and also don’t have anything for lunch.
“Noong araw, may programa ang gobyerno kung saan tinutugnunan ang nutrisyon ng mga kabataan sa loob ng paaralan. Kaya po ang pangarap natin sa lungsod ng Maynila ay maibalik ang Nutribun at gatas sa loob ng paaralan,” Isko explained.
He is referring to the Nutribun program that came from the aid sent by America to the Philippines, with the aim of helping alleviate malnutrition in the country. The program started during the Marcos regime in the 1970s, with the nutribun and milk given to students before classes start.
Photo credit: Esquire Mag
The program was eventually phased out in the mid-1980s when malnutrition rates became low.
Nutribun was designed as a “ready-to-eat complete meal” that was convenient for public elementary school feeding programs. The revival of the nutribun and milk feeding program will certainly help combat child malnutrition and ensure that no kid will ever be hungry in school…
Ganyan dapat. Emulate the best practices we have ever enjoyed before. Wag laging panira sa naging best president natin noon. Salamat po sa mga bagong leaders who are trying to bring back the love the Filipino people deserve.
What Best President? Psh
Inggit ka nanaman kase mas marami siyang nagawa kesa sa dilawan ninyong pangulo na bobo?
Whoa… Calm down.
I love thinking about this spirit of deep concern coming from the mayor himself. Lucky are those people who have emphathetic leaders who felt their need of not going hungry again. God bless Mayor Isko with your humanitarian moves.
I remember, they used to give the best tasting cheese from the USA as well. Glad that Joseph Estrada is no longer in office!
I am a nutribun recipient when I was in elementary. I belong to a poor family with ten siblings. I thank God for our president before for having this nutri aid program. It’s hard to go in school with empty stomach as I experienced till I graduated my course. I kept making assignment for my wealthy classmates in exchange of snacks or little penny for the photo copy of our modules. So long to tell my hardships experience. All the while I became a teacher now here in mindanao serving children so poor, living along the river, most of them have reading difficulties and I believe hunger is one of the contributing factor why they can’t read. I am appealing to our government to please include all pupils in government school beside of the recent feeding program for kids with severe, moderate nutritional status. How I wish this comment of mine will reach to your heart. Thank you!!
Isa ako s nkaranas kumain ng nutribun at milk non.sana whole Philippines po eto…
attention po sa lahat ng Local Goverment Unit,sana maibalik din ang nutribun para sa kalusugan ng mga bata,maiiwasan na bumili ng mga sitsiria at softdrnks na walang maidudulot na kalusugan sa mga batang pagasa ng bayan.
Sana po push nyo yan nutribun
I want to thank Mayor isko sana po mangyari yan
Salamat po 🙏
Wow! Ang sarap parang feeling ko estudyante uli ako napa ka sarap ng nutribun nong elementary ako May libre pa kami palaman sa school peanut butter at margarine take note Hindi sa bote o sa plastic nakalagay kundi sa orocan ung lagayan ng tubig na may takip malaki kaya buong school from grade 1 to 6 pati teachers ay nakakain ng nutribun. Sana nga matuloy ang Plano ni mayor isko Moreno at sana rin tularan cya ng lahat ng city at provincial mayors saludo po ako sa inyo mayor Moreno pagpalain po kayo ng diyos at gabayan sa lahat ng mga Plano nyo sa maynila MABUHAY PO KAYO!
Yong bata pa ako, may na tatangap kaming, trigo, yellow corn, at skim milk bigay ng chuch, galing sa government, sana maibalik, maiwasan ang malnutriotion ng mga kabataan, lalo na sa mga kapus palad nang ating lipunan, bka sakaling Hindi na rin baba ang mga katotobong galing b undok, pra ma malimos sa kung saan saang kalsada.
Kahanga-hanga ang gagawin ni Mayor Isko sa Manila para mapabuti ang kalusugan nga mga bata. Dapat gawin din lahat ng mga Mayors sa buong Pilipinas na bigyan pansin ang mga batang nagaaral kulang sa pagkain. Papaano makapagaaral ng mabuti ang bata kung walang laman ang tiyan. Tama rin na pati iyong nasa kabundukan ay makarating din ang mga ganitong program….
Nung elementary ako, Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas libre ang bag, pad, notebook, pencil, dentist sa school, milk, bread, vaccine etc. Those were the days. 🙂
Joan Manalo, yung mga binanggit mo ay mga donations ng USAID. United States Agency for International Development. I myself nag enjoy din sa mga ganun. Hindi yun galing sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas nuon. Isa tayo nuon sa may mataan na bilang ng mga malnourished or undernourished children kaya we were qualified na makatanggap ng food aid sa Amerika.
I sincerely hope Mayor Isko can do all he has planned for Manila.
sana ma approved at maimplement na yan sa lalong madaling panahon.God Bless Mayor Isko Moreno..
Keep up the good work. May God continue to guide and bless you.
Good job mayor isko…. Huwaran ka at dpat tuluran.. Sabi nga ng governor ng cebu, let the work do the talk not the talk do the work….
this is better than the feeding program mg deped sa mga schools. salute to mayor isko
HI, IF ONLY WE HAD THE RECIPE,,,LOOKS DELICIOUS…….
Great idea to bring it back. Just implement tighter execution–I remember seeing them in sari-sari stores back then.
Hayyys salamat maraming mga bata ang matutuwa !! 😇😇😇Mabubus0g!! 😇😇😇 At gaganahan s pagpas0k s 😇😇😇 g00d p0 yan thanks p0 god bles Us!! 😘
Being said that donations were from the USAID,it wouldn’t matter if the government then would have kept them for themselves(sell them).I was a recipient of this program and it had a big impact on young ones and adults alike in sustaining their hunger. Without this,malnutrition would have spread all over and the casualty would have been devastating.
NUTRIBUN WAS A JOINT PROJECT WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT THAT SUPPLIED THE WHEAT FOR THE BUN.. THIS JOINT EFFORT SHOULD BE REVIVED.
Mayor Isko made another eye opener for all politicians.I really admired Him even I.m from Olongapo City.
Push nyo po sana Mayor Idol..di lang po sana manila maabutan kundi sa lahat po na merong School
Godbless po and More Power..