CHILDREN from 10 public schools in Dagupan will benefit from Pasiglahin ang Estudyanteng Pinoy (PEP), a 120-day supplementary feeding program, launched Tuesday at the Dagupan City People’s Astrodome.

Mayor Belen Fernandez led the launching along with officials of the City Schools Division, the Kabisig ng Kalahi, a non-government organization, and representatives of Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN) Philippines represented by Mila Leonin and Wally Panganiban.

The beneficiaries of the 120-day supplementary feeding that will last for six months are pupils from the Lucao Elementary School, East Central Elementary School, Federico Ceralde Integrated School, North Central Elementary School, Victoria Zarate Elementary School, Sabangan Elementary School, BLISS Elementary School, Carael Elementary School, Pantal Elementary School and Calmay Elementary School.

City Nutrition Officer Leah Aquino said the children will be given one hot meal plus one glass of milk daily during their school days from Monday to Friday using the menu prepared by Kabisig while the parents of the pupils will purchase the ingredients and cook the meals.

PEP, which was simultaneously launched in 105 schools throughout the country last year, is a program specifically designed to help reduce the drop-out rate in public schools due to malnutrition.

Panganiban, MJN corporate affairs manager, said the initial implementation of PEP last year was successful citing the les than one per cent drop out rate of PEP school beneficiaries and that 98 percent of the malnourished children beneficiaries have been nursed back to normal health condition.

In the city, Nutrition Officer Aquino reported that all the 120 severely wasted pupils and 180 wasted pupils in Dagupan benefited by the supplementary feeding program last year registered a 100 percent recovery from malnutrition.

Others involved in the program are the National Competitiveness Council of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Unilever Philippines and the Department of Social Services and Development.

During the program launch Tuesday, the Philippine Dental Association. Pangasinan chapter and the Pangasinan Medical Society presented short lectures on oral health care and nutrition, respectively and conducted medical and dental check up for all the beneficiaries.

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