CEBU, Philippines — The “Imeelunggay” livelihood program was officially launched yesterday in Cebu in a bid to provide xx income for the beneficiaries and to address malnutrition.
Conceptualized by Senator Imee Marcos, the program is part of her advocacy to reduce malnutrition and to provide alternative livelihood among rice farmers.
Imee Kabuhayan-Cebu Chapter will provide 35,000 free malunggay seedlings to the beneficiaries.
The Association of Sto. Niño Homeowners, San Lorenzo Homeowners and Little Tokyo Homeowners, all located in Barangay Danlag in Consolacion town, will also receive 3,000 seedlings.
Consolacion Mayor Joannes Alegado, in yesterday’s launching, thanked Marcos for the initiative.
“I am very thankful to Senator Imee Marcos. This is a very good idea and I hope the entire Philippines will do this. If everyone plants a malunggay, I think problems in the Philippines will lessen in terms of health. Maybe people will be healthy and so ease the burden on our health system. Also, we are promoting greenery in our environment,” he said.
“I hope we will be able to continue this and more people will plant malunggay in their own homes,” he added.
Annie Ebasitas, an organizer of the program, said they chose malunggay because of its demand.
“Grabe ang demand sa raw material. Tungod ana nakahuna-huna ang mga organizers nga mangita og project. Atong objective maka andam ta og mga raw materials para sa kapsula (moringa capsule) and makatabang para maka-income,” she said.
For every grown malunggay plant, she said, organizers will pay P15.
“So, kung mananom mo, magkugi mo unya daghan inyong itanom, dako pud ang inyong income,” said Ebasitas.
Marcos, in a statement, said malunggay will soon be an ingredient of the new version of a nutribun. The Department of Science and Technology will provide equipment, while the Department of Trade and Industry will help in the packaging of the moringa product.
Jeff Go, Marcos’ political officer in Cebu, said the program will also be launched in other provinces in the country. — KQD (FREEMAN)