THE BUREAU of Corrections has kicked off its ‘Batang Busog Malusog’ program which seeks to help 105 wasted and severely wasted students in an elementary school in Muntinlupa City.

The year-round feeding program is focused on schoolchildren of Itaas Elementary Schools or IES.

United Nations Children’s Fund has defined child wasting as the most dangerous form of undernutrition and severe wasting, and one of the top threats to child survival. Severely wasted children are 12 times more likely to die than a well-nourished child.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said the feeding program is for the whole school year as part of BuCor’s corporate social responsibility.

The funds for the program came from proceeds of the 1st BuCor Cup Shoot for a Cause held in March, which raised close to P500,000.

Catapang is also enlisting the help of volunteer doctors and dietitians to monitor the progress of the students under the program.

“We have to protect vulnerable children since severe cases can lead to death or permanent damage to children’s growth and development,” Catapang said.