Pampanga kids get free checkup, eyeglasses

The Pineda family in Pampanga province begins its free eye checkups and distribution of eyeglasses to children with weak vision on Thursday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Tonette Orejas)

BACOLOR, Pampanga — Twenty parents lined up at an elementary school here as early as 7 a.m. on Thursday to get free eye checkups and eyeglasses for their children.

Carlo Bonifacio brought his daughter and two nephews to avail of the services of the “Libreng salamin para kareng anac ampo talaturu (Free eyeglasses for students and teachers), which was launched here on the same day.

By 9 a.m., more than 100 kids from five schools in central Bacolor have been signed into the program.

Provincial Board Member Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab is implementing the program as a project of the Pineda family. The family also has been supporting since last year some 200 children stricken with cancers by helping fund treatments and medicines.

More than 20,000 eyeglasses have been initially available for the students, Cayabyab said.

Dr. Ymerson Tan leads a team of ophthalmologists and nurses in doing the checkups.

“We hope we can help improve their eye vision and consequently their academic performance,” Cayabyab said.

Tan urged parents to feed kids with orange-colored vegetables and fruits to improve vision and care for the eyes. INQ

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