By Anhtony A. Araos
Let there be no misunderstanding at all. I’m not suggesting that the implications of the corruption at the DPWH are negligible and isolated as viewed by most Ifugao folks. Many other right-thinking individuals in Baguio City and other parts of the Cordilleras said it perverted and destroyed a host of aspects of life in society.
Why is it just them who are living with such despicable mindset when many others easily understand the impact of these “ghost” flood control projects? Why am I now tackling the pervasive graft in the government? It is because there is a need to protect the people’s welfare.
The disparity of budgetary allocations for infrastructure and health concerns could provide an explanation. The explanation is crystal clear. The starting point: Feeding program.
Take time to see and understand the feeding projects of the barangay government. Often conducted once a year, I easily feel the difficulties of the punong barangay in these undertakings. Doing something beyond what they usually do, feed kids with champorado, is exactly mind-boggling with a measly budget of Php 2,000. I know that’s impossible with the high cost of living. Unless, village chieftains may have to start planning feeding projects with moneyed contractors and corrupt DPWH project engineer.
Underfed Ifugao kids, rejoice!
The Panubtuban Multipurpose Cooperative (PMPC), based in Asipulo, Ifugao should really be appreciated for how caring and loving it truly is for malnourished children. See how the PMPC keeps going strong.
The Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) awarded recently the PMPC a Php 1 million grant for the purchase of food items for feeding programs of 41 day care centers in Banaue, Ifugao. Recipients are awarded food packages for the project.
PMPC head Tessie Dillag redefined nutrition as an extension of social life. Prior to PAHP’s approval of the cooperative’s bid, Dillag said a prayer and made a plan. Then it was implemented. In an interview, she said: “Let us prioritize programs that address the health and well-being of the people.” I commend her strength, compassion and dedication to building a better world.
In that view, I imagine the wisdom of providing rice, milk, mongo and other items in the food packages. I realize that the distribution of said packages to the beneficiaries, are very interesting scenes that surely have a very deep meaning.
Get out of the rut. Open your eyes. Malnutrition has multifarious effects. It exists on horrifying levels across different stages of life in a child. A malnourished child is always in trouble throughout his life. His life is depleted by hunger. Thus, addressing this mounting problem is valuable. In my attempt to stress this point, I’m also declaring: Make it urgent and decisive!
More importantly, it is imperative to educate local government units on the vitality of integrating into their Annual Investment Plan adequate health and nutrition interventions. Most barangay councils are lagging on this matter. Insufficient funds for nutrition will produce negative ends, tragic mistakes, inefficiency and high levels of malnutrition. The challenge is to discern a swift move to save severely nutritionally-at-risk children in poverty-stricken Ifugao. Come to think about it, the PMPC is doing a wonderful job of turning a situation from bad to good.
Nothing is more certain than a catastrophe. Fact: a UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) study showed that the Philippine’s economy loses $ 4 billion every year because of malnutrition.
The PMPC has the benefit of hindsight. It has clearly navigated the maze of social change that is part of the efforts to break intergenerational malnutrition in distant and economically-deprived villages.
For now, my belief on private sector support on this concern remains strong. Multi-sector action to combat malnutrition is important. NGOs have to act immediately to cushion the effects of malnutrition. My hopes are high. Their noteworthy actions give hope to a better future for these impoverished kids.**
