Tagum Cooperative launched its annual supplemental feeding program dubbed as Hot Lunch Plus in one community and two schools in Davao del Norte.
The program was launched at Brgy. Palma Gil in Talaingod on August 15, Kuyas Elementary School in Talaingod on August 16, and Upper & Lower Mabini Elementary School in Kapalong on August 17.
In support to the program, beneficiaries’ parents were tapped to personally cook for their children’s nutritious lunch every day, in a rotating basis.
In the launching at Palma Gil, Director Evelia Sator, representing the Board of Directors chaired by Ms. Monica L. Salido, bared that Tagum Coop allocated budget from its net income to implement its annual community development activities such as the Hot Lunch.
Director Edgardo Silagan further added that the program is a way of sharing God’s blessings, encouraging the parents to be members of Tagum Coop for it does not only return income to members but to community as well.
Ms. Jacklyn Ino, a parent, retold how children, mostly IPs, cannot eat a decent meal in a day. Barangay councilors, the Army, and Talaingod municipal councilor Sylbeth Gaila also expressed their appreciation to the Cooperative.
Meanwhile, Dir. Eduard Amoguis, also Curriculum Implementation Division Chief of DepEd Davao del Norte, graced the launching of the Hot Lunch at Kuyas Elementary School where the beneficiaries are all indigenous pupils.
The final launching took place at Upper & Lower Mabini Elementary School where only three classrooms built shared more than 100 pupils of varying grade levels. There, Dir. Miriam R. Baloyo revealed Tagum Coop’s unceasing effort to look for deserving beneficiaries.
The Hot Lunch Plus was formalized with the signing of the Deed of Donations between Tagum Coop and the recipient institutions.
In partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) which endorsed the recipients, the program aims to increase the weight of wasted and severely wasted children for 120 days of implementation with proper monitoring. (Tagum Cooperative)