‘Brilliant kids’ in Calapan

Calapan City Mayor Paulino Salvador “Doy” Leachon vowed to raise more brilliant children in his city through feeding programs aimed at stamping out malnutrition.

In a press statement, the mayor said he is determined to produce intelligent children and push for a year-round supplemental feeding program.

“The feeding program is not just a one-day activity,” he said. “We must look into the early years of a child, the period when physical, mental and emotional development takes place.”

With proper nutrition, a child has a greater chance to complete his formal schooling, keep a stable job later in life and be part of nation-building, he said.

Calapan City has lowered the number of malnutrition cases from 10.21 percent in 2009 to 8.80 percent in 2010.

Leachon said the local government’s package of programs was able to improve the health of acutely malnourished schoolchildren. “Children can now focus on their learning,” he added.

The mayor said malnutrition is a serious problem that could affect a child’s school performance.

“Undernourished kids are less attentive in class. That is why they don’t learn a lot. They grow less competent,” he said.

He said he is seeking partners from non-government and people’s organizations and the private sector to map out a more massive feeding program that would ensure “we could produce brilliant kids.”