Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Secretary Lorenzo Gadon on Tuesday said the “Batang Busog, Malusog” (BBM) feeding program for marginalized children aims to promote the Bayanihan (concerted effort) spirit in the Filipino community.

Gadon said the BBM feeding program is different from the programs by the Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development because, unlike the others, this does not require government funding and is not implemented nationwide.

“This is only for very depressed areas, for public elementary school students. Targeted lang sa schools na kinakailangan ng tulong (Targeted only for schools that really need help),” he said during the weekly Pandesal Forum in Quezon City.

While education is the key to alleviating poverty in the country, Gadon said many children are unable to finish even the basic education level because they go to school hungry “so their brain functions such as comprehension are limited”.

The program, he said, is and will not be a money-making scheme because no monetary donation is received from their partners or sponsors.

“Companies will be linked to the schools and parent-teachers association directly,” he said.

“If they will just donate money, there is no effort on their part. Ang gusto namin dito makita ‘yung bayanihan spirit sa ating mga kababayan, helping hand, na matulungan nila ‘yung ibang kababayan natin (What we want here is to relive the bayanihan spirit among our fellowmen, helping hand, that they help other fellowmen).”

The program will start when classes open in the public schools in the National Capital Region where many depressed areas are located.

However, the specific school beneficiaries of the program are yet to be identified by the program partners. The students will be served breakfast meals that consist of rice, eggs, vegetables and noodles with fortified nutrients.

“It could be everyday or two times a week only so that the others will also follow suit. Halimbawa, may nag-program diyan na dalawang araw lang, eh, di sasabihin naman namin sa iba, dalawang araw, naibigay na dito ng isang company, baka ‘yung isang araw sagutin niyo na, tapos sasabihin namin sa isa baka ‘yung pang-apat na araw sa inyo naman, dahil dun lalabas ang tunay na kahulugan ng bayanihan (For example, one sponsor will conduct a two days feeding program, we’ll advise another company to take care of the next day, another company on the fourth day and so forth. This is how real bayanihan spirit is),” Gadon said. (PNA)