Eskwela Ta, Kaon Ta Feeding Program
By TAMMY TARA MOLDES
Head Teacher II, Mahayag Elementary School
West Butuan District I, Division of Butuan City
Mahayag Elementary School, formerly known as Mahayag Primary School, was founded in 1970 in Purok 10 Sitio Mahayag, Barangay Dumalagan, Butuan City. It is a remote school located in a mountainous area, around 17.4 km from the city center and 6.5 km from Bancasi airport. Most of the students live in the nearby barrio and have to walk 3.7 km each day to reach the school, enduring the scorching heat for about 48 minutes. Due to exhaustion and hunger, some students choose to assist their parents instead of attending classes, resulting in poor attendance.
The school recognizes the importance of proper nutrition for the students’ growth, development, and academic performance. Malnutrition and hunger can hinder students’ ability to understand their lessons and lead to poor performance in their studies. To address this issue, Mahayag Elementary School has initiated the “Eskwela ta, Kaon ta!!!” program, aimed at combating malnutrition and hunger among students. The program focuses on increasing student attendance and providing hot meals during lunchtime. Through public-private partnerships, the program ensures that all 45 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 receive free lunch, allowing them to focus on their studies without being hindered by hunger or malnutrition. The collaboration between the school and external stakeholders, spearheaded by Mr. Domingo C. Nollora III and Ms. Tammy Tara Moldes, has contributed to the program’s sustainability. The two-week Free Lunch program resulted in a higher attendance rate of 29 students, or 69%, and helped decrease absenteeism and dropout rates. By addressing hunger, the program is making a positive difference in the lives of children in Mahayag Elementary School.The Feeding program started on May 15-18 & 22-26 with the following sponsors and the meal has been served are as follows:
These efforts demonstrate how public-private partnerships can work together to improve communities and ensure that all children have access to the resources they need to succeed. ###
