Feeding program in Philippines assisted over 100,000 children, pregnant mothers in 2024
An integrated feeding program in the Philippines has assisted more than 100,000 children and mothers in 2024.
According to the year-end report of the Catholic program HAPAG-ASA, they have supported a total of 97,756 malnourished children and 2,469 pregnant or lactating mothers across the country.
The program, mainly supported by the Catholic non-profit organization Assisi Development Foundation, brought nutritious meals to remote and underserved communities, as well as “expanded their knowledge on proper nutrition.”
“These numbers are not just figures. They represent lives improved and dreams fulfilled,” their year-end report stated.
HAPAG-ASA also expressed their gratitude to their donors, composed of other non-profit organizations, schools, dioceses, and local government units.
Most notable of them is the Christian non-profit Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), which has developed and provided the program’s MannaPack meal formula.
According to the FMSC’s website, this food formula is “an excellent source of protein, carbohydrates, and key nutrients culturally acceptable worldwide for anyone over the age of one.”
They also described MannaPack as a key supplement in reducing the problems caused by malnutrition.
Furthermore, HAPAG-ASA’s year-ended report also saluted the volunteers who have been helping out to “make the impossible happen.”
Their volunteers assist in carrying out the program’s daily operations, including cooking, teaching, and measuring the children’s height and weight.
“We have shown how partnership and collaboration can create meaningful and lasting change. Your steadfast commitment continues to inspire us as we embark on another year filled with hope, transformation, and unity,” the year-end report said.
The HAPAG-ASA Integrated Feeding Program is a Catholic response to the problem of malnutrition among Filipino children.
According to the Assisi Development Foundation’s website, malnourished kids are fed five times a week for six months through this program. At the end of each month, they are checked to measure the improvement in their nutritional status.
The program’s name is a portmanteau of the Filipino words “hapag” and “pag-asa,” which mean “table” and “hope,” respectively.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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