BACOLOD City – The Cadiz City Government in Negros Occidental is one of the national finalists for “Walang Gutom” Awards of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The final presentation and awarding will be on June 25 to 26 at the DSWD central office in Quezon City.
“It’s awe-inspiring to note that we are among the finalists now in the national level,” said Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr.
He said the city government’s initiative – “Pagkaon Aton Tatapon-Bata Aton Giyahan sa Iya Kaalam” (Project PAT-BAGSIK) – was found by DSWD effective in eradicating or cushioning the impact of hunger.
“Being listed as one of the national finalists is a sort of a validation that the local government of Cadiz is really serious in addressing hunger and poverty,” he added.
Project PAT-BAGSIK started as a feeding program in Cadiz schools which was initiated by former mayor Patrick Escalante. The incumbent mayor transformed it into a city-wide drive against hunger.
From the Department of Education (DepEd), Mayor Escalante instituted a multi-faceted strategy, involving departments concerned to come up with their respective drawn initiatives – all related to solving hunger problem.
With the goal of zero hunger in Cadiz, the recalibrated Project PAT-BAGSIK dwelled first on anti-malnutrition crusade.
It later gave priority to pregnant women and infants’ nutritional needs through Project B.A.D.I.N.G. (Busong Aton Depensahan, Ika-ayong lawas sang Nanay aton Gina-tipigan).
They consequently implemented the “Magulay na Buhay” Project, a distinctive element of Cadiz City Supplementary Feeding Program (CCSFP) in all child development centers in the city.
DepEd’s “Gulayan sa Paaralan” was also sustained and boosted alongside community-based organic farming, benefiting over 23,000 school kids in the city.
The city mayor added that their investments in concreting all farm-to-market roads in the city made their anti-hunger quest more achievable.
The “Walang Gutom Awards” was established to acknowledge the most innovative and effective programs of local government units (LGUs) in addressing food insecurity and hunger nationwide.
DSWD said LGUs with the most effective anti-hunger initiatives and practices in food security will be granted P2 million each.
At least 101 LGUs participated in the search, with only 25 selected to the national finals./PN
