CHILD NUTRITION. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Chairperson Junie E. Cua. In a press statement on Saturday (July 15, 2023), Cua called on local government units to use the funds they receive from the agency for the nutrition needs of their constituents, especially children. (PNA file photo)
MANILA – As the country commemorates National Nutrition Month, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Chairperson Junie E. Cua reminded local government units (LGUs) that they may use the funds they receive from the agency for the nutrition needs 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 in a press statement on Saturday. "I hope that these shares will particularly help our LGUs implement their policies for children's nutrition."
He noted that the PCSO is mandated to share lotto and STL proceeds to LGUs, with cities and municipalities receiving 5 percent, and provinces receiving 2 percent.
In 2022, LGUs received nearly PHP1 billion in shares from lotto and Small Town Lottery (STL) proceeds.
Lotto shares amounted to PHP395,224,629, while STL shares amounted to PHP552,948,639 for a total of PHP948,173,268.
According to Cua, these 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 and equipment; or milk feeding/nutrition program.
As a "special request,” Cua called on LGUs to prioritize their milk feeding/nutrition programs in response to a National Nutrition Council finding that about 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 fifth birthday.
The World Bank, meanwhile, said that one out of three Filipino children five years old and below is stunted or small in size for their age due to undernutrition.
On the part of the PCSO, Cua said a special sweepstakes draw for the benefit of the Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines would be held on July 15. (PNA)
