Cebu schools feeding program gets P1M worth of rice

Cebu schools feeding program gets P1M worth of rice | Daily Tribune

As part of its ongoing commitment to fight involuntary hunger, Globe, through the Hapag Movement and in collaboration with the Ayala Foundation, has extended P1 million worth of rice to support the Sugbo School Feeding Program (SSFP) of the Cebu Provincial Government.

The rice donation — delivered to the Capitol Warehouse in Cebu City — will help ensure that 890,000 Kindergarten to Grade 12 public school students across the province receive nutritious meals to support their learning and development.

Patrick Gloria, Globe’s vice president for external affairs; Jaypee P. Gulay, Globe’s Stakeholders Management and Corporate Communications for Visayas and Mindanao; and Marlito G. Cabigas, Corporate Citizenship and Volunteerism for Visayas and Mindanao of Ayala Foundation Inc., turned over the donation to Engr. Noel Gurrea, OIC of the Provincial General Services Office; Ana Rhea Siarza of the Provincial Information Office and Patrick Diaz, Motorpool Warehouse in-charge.

The SSFP is a province-wide initiative that provides one hot meal every school day, helping address hunger in schools and improve student concentration and attendance.

“Good nutrition is critical to a child’s development. We’ve seen too many stories of children unable to focus on their lessons in school because they are hungry. By supporting the Sugbo School Feeding Program, we at Globe hope to help ensure that children are nourished and ready to learn,” said Patrick Gloria, vice president for external affairs at Globe.

The support was made possible through the Hapag Movement, Globe’s platform that mobilizes donations and partnerships to provide sustainable solutions to hunger and malnutrition. By working with partner organizations like Ayala Foundation, Hapag ensures that resources reach communities that need them most, particularly schoolchildren at risk of learning setbacks due to undernourishment.

According to the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, nearly one-third of Filipino children experience stunting — a condition often linked to chronic undernutrition, which can cause irreversible cognitive and physical challenges. This is reflected in the Philippines’ 2024 Program for International Student Assessment performance, where Filipino 15-year-olds scored significantly below the global average.

Globe, through the Hapag Movement, continues to rally partners and the public toward addressing these pressing issues. By supporting grassroots programs like the SSFP, the company reinforces its mission to uplift communities and help students thrive inside and outside the classroom.