AS the country commemorates National Nutrition Month, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chairman Junie E. Cua reminded local government units they may use the funds they receive from the agency for the nutritional requirements of their constituents.
“We are one with the nation in commemorating National Nutrition Month. I would like to take this occasion to remind our LGUs that they may also use their PCSO shares for their nutrition programs,” Cua said.
“I hope that these shares will help our LGUs implement their policies for children’s nutrition,” he added.
LGUs received nearly P1 billion in shares from lotto and small-town lottery (STL) proceeds last year. Lotto shares amounted to P395,224,629 while STL shares amounted to P552,948,639, totaling P948,173,268.
Executive Order No. 357-A requires the PCSO to share its lotto and STL proceeds to LGUs, with cities and municipalities receiving five percent, and provinces receiving 2 percent. The local government units receive their shares from the Charity Fund, and the 2020 STL Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations.
According to Cua, the LGU shares can be used for a broad number of health and medical needs, including medical/dental missions, medicine donation, hospitalization assistance, procurement of medical supplies/equipment, or milk feeding/nutrition program.
Cua urged LGUs to also prioritize their milk feeding/nutrition programs, in response to a National Nutrition Council (NNC) finding that around 35 percent or four out of 10 Filipino families in the country are unable to eat healthy and nutritious food.
He also cited data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) showing that 95 Filipino children die every day due to malnutrition while 27 out of 1,000 children do not reach their 5th birthday. Data from the World Bank also shows that one out of 3 Filipino children below five years old suffers from stunting.
Cua said a special sweepstakes draw for the benefit of the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines was held on July 15.
