By Joan Castor
A moment captured with Ms. Joan Castor, CPU Project ETC Logistics Coordinator, and the dedicated principal and teachers of Iloilo River Plains Integrated School, highlighting their collaborative efforts.
On July 8 – 9, 2025, Central Philippine University (CPU), through its flagship outreach initiative – Project ETC (Education, Technology and Community) – successfully delivered and turned over one month’s worth of feeding supplies to its adopted schools in Iloilo Province.
The beneficiaries of this feeding program include Iloilo River Plains Integrated School, located in Lanit, Jaro, Iloilo City, Badiang Elementary School, in Barangay Badiang, New Lucena, Iloilo, and Tapikan Elementary School, in Barangay Tapikan, San Joaquin, Iloilo. These schools were selected based on their need for nutritional support and their commitment to improving the well-being of their learners.
The food supplies, which are sufficient for a month’s consumption for all enrolled students in these schools, consist primarily of carbohydrate-rich staples. These are specifically chosen to help combat undernutrition and improve the overall nutritional status of learners – particularly those who fall under the categories of severely wasted and wasted, as identified by health assessments. Improving students’ nutrition is seen as a key factor in enhancing their academic performance, classroom participation, and attendance.
Ms. Joan Castor, Project ETC’s Logistics Coordinator, played a vital role in the entire process – overseeing budget proposals, developing nutritious and affordable meal plans, allocating food supplies to each school based on student population, and ensuring timely delivery and proper turnover of the items. This initiative reflects CPU Project ETC’s deep commitment to community engagement and educational support.
By addressing hunger and malnutrition, Project ETC not only promotes physical health but also lays the foundation for better concentration, active learning, and a more inclusive educational environment. Through this feeding program, CPU Project ETC ensures that no student in the recipient schools goes to class hungry, reinforcing the belief that every child deserves a healthy start and a chance to succeed.