Sto. Tomas, Batangas – THE “Mega Bigay Sustansya Program” a sustainable nutrition initiative by Mega Prime Foods, continues to make a significant impact on the health of Filipino children launched in 2019 by the Mega Tiu Lim Foundation, this program aims to combat malnutrition by providing nutritious meals and essential knowledge to children, ensuring their optimal growth and development.
The program focuses on children aged 4-12, offering them nutritious meals for 120 days.Designed in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute, and Reach Out Feed Philippines, the program has successfully served over 370,000 meals in various communities across the Philippines, including Ermita, Valenzuela, Navotas, Samar, Leyte, Roxas, Culion, Surigao, and Zamboanga. Recently, it has expanded to selected schools in Lucena, Lopez, Sariaya Quezon, Tanauan, Ormoc, Tacloban, Tawi-Tawi, and Sto. Tomas, Batangas.
Ms. Dawn Marie Cabigon, Founder of Reach Out Feed Philippines, noted that for the school year 2023-2024, they partnered with DepEd to identify beneficiaries based on nutritional status.
Martin Tiu-Lim, Chief Growth and Development Officer of Mega Prime Foods Inc., emphasized the program's commitment to preventing stunted growth in children. “Mega Bigay Sustansya Program needs a lot of effort to help children avoid stunted growth by ensuring they eat nutritious meals from a young age. We feed them and involve their parents to ensure they understand the program’s benefits, giving their children a fair start in life.”
To ensure the program's sustainability, Tiu-Lim highlighted the importance of consistency. “Thanks to our consumers, we are here to give back. We provide training to parents on how to maximize their budget while preparing nutritious meals and on proper food storage and budgeting.”
Ms. Cabigon added that the feeding program tailors its menu based on children’s preferences, ensuring meals are both nutritious and enjoyable. “We adjust the menu based on what the children like and what they leave on their plates to ensure they enjoy their meals”.
” Mega Prime Foods, a Filipino company dedicated to promoting healthy eating, believes in the power of partnerships to achieve its goals. Mr. Tiu-Lim reiterated the programs readiness to scale up. “We have a solid foundation, from screening beneficiaries to gathering data. We currently support 500 beneficiaries across eight locations, including 60 students in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. We encourage parents to be involved, emphasizing the importance of nutrition, especially for young parents who might overlook its significance.”
The 60 beneficiaries in Sto. Tomas recently graduated from the 120-day program on July 7, 2024, at the Mega Prime Food Plant in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, marking another milestone in the program's mission to fight malnutrition and promote healthy eating habits among Filipino children.
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