BLT parents learn key steps in food sanitation

Parents of Busog Lusog Talino (BLT) Program beneficiaries in Josue Alcasid Elementary School, Brgy. Baras, Tacurong City learned five key steps in food sanitation during the Food Handlers Class conducted on October 25, 2013.

BLT parents cook and prepare the food of 40 schoolchildren for the daily feeding program that is why Mr. Marlow Buenacosa, Head of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Section of the Office for City Health Services, reminded them of these five steps: 1) maging malinis; 2) ihiwalay ang hilaw sa luto; 3) lutuing mabuti ang pagkain; 4) panatilihing nasa ligtas na temperature ang pagkain; at 5) gumamit ng malinis at ligtas na tubig at mga sangkap sa pagluluto.  

Buenacosa also stressed on the importance of proper hand-washing in observing good hygiene and proper food handling. “Ini nga programa, gihiwat para mabusog kag magmaayo ang lawas sang kabataan ta pero kung hindi tama ang pagpreparar sang pagkaon nila, mahimo pa sila nga masakiton,” Mr. Buenacosa said.

The city government of Tacurong, Jollibee Foundation’s local implementing partner for BLT program in the city, sees the need to conduct activities that would guide the BLT parents in the fulfillment of their role in the program. “We need to sustain the commitment of parents for the health of our pupils,” Principal Ronnie Formacion said.

LGU-Tacurong provides ingredients and recipes weekly while BLT program coordinators and principals in each school supervise the daily feeding.

“Daku ang pasalamat namon sa BLT kay damu kami nabal-an nga bag-o, mga recipe nga healthy para sa mga bata, mga natun-an nga hindi mabaydan,” said Mrs. Tessie Corpuz, BLT coordinator of Josue Alcasid Elementary School.

The Food Handlers Class will also be conducted in three other school beneficiaries in Tacurong come first week of November 2013.

The BLT program aims to work with local government units nationwide to feed 40 of each school’s Grade 1 and 2 pupils identified as wasted and severely wasted. Pupils are fed daily or 136 days within a school year.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano (LGU-Information)