TO MARK the program’s 7th year of implementation this school year 2013-2014, the Annual Busog Lusog Talino (BLT) Opening of Jollibee Group Foundation was held on July 17, 2013 at Don F.S. Dizon Sr. Elementary School, San Roque District, Division of Davao City.
This year’s kick-off ceremony was graced by the president of the foundation, Ms. Grace A. Tan Caktiong, wife of Tony Tan Caktiong, the founder of Jollibee and a former resident of Davao City, and Department of Education (Deped) Secretary Armin A. Luistro, fsc.
The occasion also served as recognition of the City Government of Davao and various BLT partners in the region for their proactive involvement in the BLT program.
The City Government of Davao committed P5.7 million for the BLT schools in the region for the next five years.
“We believe that the success of this collective effort among our DepEd stakeholders, local implementing partners (LIP), the local government unit (LGU) particularly the City of Davao exemplifies the spirit of collaboration that the BLT program strives to espouse in our communities,” Tan Caktiong said in her message.
For his part, Secretary Luistro recognized the commitment made, saying that the partnership with Jollibee, the LIP’s, other BLT partners and LGU’s will help the Department achieve zero dropout rate to realize the goal of Education for All (EFA) 2015.
BLT Backgrounder
BLT Program is a school-based feeding program sponsored by the Jollibee Group Foundation that helps pupils come to school and learn better. It's just not to feed the hungry stomach but also feed the school children’s mind and heart and help them become productive citizens of the country.
The program aims to alleviate hunger, improve nutritional status, improve attendance and promote local collaboration.
According to the United Nations World Food Program, offering nutritious meals in school boosts enrollment and motivates attendance and improves learning ability among pupils.
Jollibee Foundation, the CSR arm of Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) developed in 2007 the Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) school feeding program. The Foundation partners with public and private sectors in the local communities to ensure better health and nutrition among public school children nationwide.
The employee volunteers and franchises of JFC also contribute to the success of the program. The support of customers through coin bank donations in all the JFC stores nationwide continues to boost the program as well.
Program Scheme
A maximum of 40 below normal (wasted and severely wasted) Grade I-III pupils are the feeding beneficiaries. In its first year of implementation, the identified beneficiaries will undergo 120 feeding days sponsored by the Jollibee Group Foundation.
On its second year, 50 percent will be shouldered by the foundation while 50 percent will be sourced by the school who will mobilize resources and other expertise that will help sustain the program.
On its third year, the school acquires the ownership of the program and is expected to have established ways to sustain it.
Steps in BLT Implementation
School level orientation and planning will be conducted with the LIPs, school principal, teachers, Home Economics Coordinator, parents, community and Deped nurses.
The identified BLT beneficiaries who have undergone the Expanded Universal Medical Check Up and height and weight taking will be dewormed prior to the feeding activities.
BLT Parents Group will be formed and will be given orientation on role delineation, schedule of cooking and marketing and will be encouraged to apply the BLT learning to the family at home.
The parents group is the one tasked for marketing, purchasing, cooking, and serving. They will also ensure that the children will wash their hands before eating and take care of washing the dishes afterward.
The principals submit programs and financial report to the LIP while the H.E. coordinators will prepare monthly financial report including the counterpart resources.
Parents are also expected to do the task of the daily feeding because the moment the parents stopped to get involved in the program, the BLT Program shall be withdrawn from the schools.
The program cycle ends with evaluation and plan for sustainability.
BLT Implementation in Davao City
Davao City is already on its 5th year of implementation since 2009 which started with only 11 schools followed by 15 in 2010, 29 in 2011, 65 in 2012, 111 in 2013 and expected to reach 142 schools each for 2014 and 2015.
The City Government of Davao under former Mayor Sara Duterte and the current Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte approved a budget amounting to P5.7 million in the form of rice subsidy per month which will last for five years.
The following are the LIP supporters of the program: JTC Group of Companies, Davao Doctors College, Davao Medical School Foundation, San Pedro College, University of Mindanao, St. Peter’s College of Toril, Holy Cross College of Calinan, Holy Cross College of Mintal, St. Paul College of Pasig, Davao Campus and Davao Central College.
DepE Davao Regional Director Gloria D. Benigno, who also graced the occasion, thanked the supporters of BLT that helps address hunger among grade school pupils thereby achieving the Deped goal of bringing the children and keeping them in school through this kind of the feeding program.
Ms. Merced Coloma, Community Extension Officer and BLT Focal Person of Davao Doctors’ College shared the Busog, Lusog, Talino School Feeding Experience in Davao City.
Schools Division Superintendent Helen D. Paguican welcomed the attendees of the launching along with ASDS Ma. Antonia Diaz, District Supervisor Lucy Maquindang of San Roque District and Mrs. Lilian Libre, school principal of F.S. Dizon Sr. ES.
Dr. Mariblanca C. Piatos, Medical Officer of Deped 11, Nelly Fabia, Regional Nutritionist and Dr. Gracita Berguia, Medical Officer of the Division of Davao City, Regional Nutrition Coordinator Ms. Ma. Teresa Ungson, Davao City Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta, and representatives from Jollibee Group Foundation and various LIP’s were also there to show their support to the program.