by Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY, Jan. 25 (PIA) - - Promoting proper nutrition among schoolchildren in public schools, 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman has joined the Laki Sa Gatas (LSG) Nutrition Education Advocacy held this morning at Estaka Central School in this city.
Speaking in a gathering of schoolchildren, parents, teachers and media practitioners, Miss Quigaman told the crowd that getting adequate nutrition made her attain her ambition in life – that is to become a beauty queen.
Quigaman shared with the audience her background as having come from a poor family and studied in a public school. Despite her condition in life, she did everything her parents taught her to attain her ambition in life backed up by studying hard and drinking milk each day.
LSG program, which aims to promote proper nutrition among schoolchildren, has been spearheaded by Nestle Philippines in coordination with the Department of Education (DepED).
It was learned that many schoolchildren in public schools suffer malnutrition based on the 2006 poverty statistics.
Official poverty statistics showed that two of 10 children aged 6-10 years old lack iron, two out of 10 children under 12 years old lack Vit. A, and one out of 10 children under 12 years old lack zinc.
Underweight children are also prevalent among children coming from socio-economic class D and E.
LSG representative Jimson Milagrosa also told the local press that LSG Nutrition Education Advocacy is targeting to cover some 2,540 public elementary schools for 2012. (FPG/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)