Busog Lusog Talino-central Kitchen opens in Sipalay
NEGROS Island’s first Busog Lusog Talino-central Kitchen was inaugurated by the City of Sipalay City last December 8.
The BLT Central Kitchen is an aid to the School-based Feeding Program (SBFP) of the Department of Education.
Located at Agripino Alvarez Elementary School in Barangay Mambaroto, the Central Kitchen will serve 648 undernourished pupils every school day in seven schools in the area.
The daily “free lunch” will be prepared by 10 trained parents/volunteers in the Central Kitchen while the facility’s operations will be managed by a team of teachers led by principal Lucille Malabago.
“This is a dream come true for the enhancement of the SBFP implementation. Apart from the structure, the practices include standardized recipes and procedure,” said Division Nurse Katrese Sabrine during the inauguration of the BLT Central Kitchen.
Vice Mayor Maria Gina Montilla Lizares recalled the serendipitous partnership of the City Government and the Jollibee Group Foundation as early as 2013 for the Busog Lusog Talino School Feeding Program.
The collaboration then opened doors for the construction of the first BLT Central Kitchen in the province.
Lizares said the Central Kitchen is not only a government-funded structure for the local government unit, it is a reminder of how the city values education for the young Sipalaynons.
The growing community of partners for this pro- gram includes the NGO Communities First-creative Initiatives for Development, a cluster of Barangays and parent volunteers.
Ma. Gisela Tiongson, executive director of Jollibee Group Foundation, addressed the partners to keep the spirit of gratitude beyond the blessing of the BLT Central Kitchen.
She emphasized that the collaboration does not end as the kitchen is now operational, it is only the beginning.
“The stories and situations of the make-shift school kitchen and feeding areas are among the motivations of Communities First in collaborating for this project,” said executive director Katherine Maguad.
Apart from aiding the implementation of Deped’s School-based Feeding Program, the Central Kitchen’s use will be expanded to serve the citizens of Sipalay and even nearby communities through disaster response and related trainings for the parents and students./pr