On its 50th year, Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) continues to further its purpose of providing affordable nutrition for every Filipino family with a World Milk Day celebration at Kartilya ng Katipunan in partnership with the City Government of Manila.
With the theme “Nagbibigay ng Alaga at Nutrisyon sa Bawat Pamilyang Pilipino sa loob ng 50 taon” (Providing care and nutrition to every Filipino family for 50 years), AMC’s World Milk Day campaign and celebration underscore its role in addressing the issue of malnutrition in the country.
“Malnutrition has long been affecting our growing children, and the pandemic has only worsened the problem,” said Congressman and Manila City Vice Mayor-Elect Hon. John Marvin “Yul Servo” Cruz Nieto. According to United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 95 children in the Philippines die from malnutrition every day, while a third of Filipino children are stunted or short for their age. Staying true to its commitment of bringing affordable nutrition to Filipino families, AMC has pledged to donate 100,000 glasses of milk to malnourished schoolchildren.
“World Milk Day is more than just a 24-hour long celebration,” shared AMC People and Culture Director Edalyn Hadjula-Legarde. “It brings to light the importance of dairy as part of a healthy diet, especially for Filipinos.” The average Filipino consumes only 22 kilograms of milk in 2021, which is much lower than the 91.25 kilograms recommended by the Department of Science and Technology — Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI).
Among the highlights of AMC’s World Milk Day celebration is the “Alagang Alaska Cook-Off”. It is a culinary competition between selected AMC employees and mothers from Manila using Alaska Milk products. In the past 50 years, Alaska Milk products have been a staple in the Filipino kitchen providing delicious and nutritious milk products for households and businesses alike. Booths sponsored by various AMC departments also offer games, exciting prizes, and food products using Alaska.
Also present during the event are Manila City Government Executive Assistant to the Mayor on Special Projects Architect Joy Dawis-Asuncion, Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) Director Maria Asuncion Fugoso, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Manila Director Atty. Rolynne Javier, AMC’s Customer Supply Chain Director Gary Siu, Corporate Affairs Director Maria Angela Esquivel, and Registered Nutritionist-Dietician Mrs. Jhoanne Cruz-Balili.
Together with over a hundred countries around the world who also commemorate World Milk Day 2022, AMC is also bringing attention to the importance of dairy as sustainable and global food, and highlighting the many jobs provided by the dairy industry.
The City of Manila led by Mayor Isko Moreno and Vice Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Honrado Lacuna-Pangan has also initiated programs addressing the issue of malnutrition in consonance with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
