MABALACAT CITY – Families evacuated from their flood-inundated homes had servings of steaming “sopas” at Barangay Tabun here on July 24 with the launch of the Mobile Soup Kitchen Program of Pampanga 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. in partnership with Red Pillars Foundation (RPF).
The mobile soup kitchen is the first initiative under Lazatin’s comprehensive nutrition program in the First District of Pampanga, to be implemented through RPF.
Under the partnership, no government funds shall be downloaded to RPF; instead, Lazatin’s office shall provide support in the form of labor and personnel, while the foundation will be responsible for implementing Lazatin’s nutrition programs in the First District.
Through this partnership, Lazatin aims to address undernourishment in the First District with a three-month support program for undernourished children, carried out through the RPF.
Lazatin has always been a fervent champion of proper nutrition. As Angeles City mayor, he launched the malunggay bun – dubbed “Pusong Mamon” – in 2022, which was distributed to identified malnourished children as part of the city’s nutrition program.
A year after the Pusong Mamon launch, Angeles City recorded a 63% decrease in the rate of malnourished kids. From 1,500 kids classified as malnourished in 2022, the number went down to 563 in August 2023.
Now as Pampanga 1st District representative, one of Lazatin’s first initiatives is the launching of the first “Malunggay Ice Cream” in the district on July 1, 2025, to be distributed to day care students as part of Lazatin’s initiative to promote nutrition among young children.
The Malunggay Ice Cream is funded by Lazatin out of his own pocket and is being distributed to day care students in the First District.
Lazatin has vowed to continue prioritizing nutrition and health in his legislative agenda, including measures to expand the coverage of the Primary Care Package, in accordance with RA 11224 (Universal Health Care Act), to include check-ups and laboratory tests in order to lessen the out-of-pocket expenses of patients, as well as to include mental health emergency, psychiatric and neurological services, and mental health gap action program.
The Red Pillars Foundation is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and duly recognized by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Angeles as a people’s organization. Punto News Team/CongPogi-PR
