Cadiz City in Negros Occidental is a finalist for “Walang Gutom” Awards by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), with its entry “Project PAT-BAGSIK or Pagkaon Aton Tatapon-Bata Aton Giyahan sa Iya Kaalam.”
Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. and some department heads will go through a panel interview at DSWD central office in Quezon City on June 25.
It will be followed by the awarding ceremony on June 26, at a venue to be announced later.
“It’s awe-inspiring to note that we are among the finalists now in the national level,” Escalante said, adding that it indicates that the city government is serious in addressing hunger and poverty.
He said that Project PAT-BAGSIK is now like a “from womb to tomb” whole-of-the-city government approach with an ultimate aim to address hunger at all cost.
The project’s origin, a feeding program in Cadiz City schools, was started by the mayor’s brother, former mayor Patrick Escalante, which was further boosted by his administration’s city-wide drive against hunger.
In a statement, Escalante said he instituted a multi-faceted strategy, involving departments concerned to come up with their respective drawn initiatives – all related to solving hunger problem, with a goal of “Zero hunger in Cadiz.
The recalibrated Project PAT-BAGSIK dwelled first on anti-malnutrition crusade, and moved to prioritizing pregnant women’s and infants’ nutritional needs through Project B.A.D.I.N.G. (Busong Aton Depensahan, Ika-ayong lawas sang Nanay aton Gina-tipigan).
It was followed by the “Magulay na Buhay” Project, a distinctive element of Cadiz City Supplementary Feeding Program in all child developmemt centers, formerly day care centers, in the city.
The Department of Education’s “Gulayan sa Paaralan” was also sustained and boosted alongside community-based organic farming, benefiting over 23,000 school kids in Cadiz.
Escalante also reported that the City Agriculture’s “Bottom-Up Budgeting” allocations for farm equipment and facilities and the establishment of mobile market are also gaining grounds, which enables Cadiznons to access necessities sans visiting the city market.
Significantly, Escalante said their investments in concreting all farm-to-market roads in Cadiz made their anti-gutom quest more achievable.
Such paved a way for all Cadiznons to access easy transport of goods from the mountains to lowlands as well as other agricultural projects and programs of the city aimed at alleviating hunger and poverty in Cadiz, he added.
Admitting that the casting a goal of zero hunger in Cadiz is very challenging, Escalante said such gigantic mission turned achievable with the collaborative efforts and steadfast dedication plus innovative strategies through synergy. ||
