The Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu has made a substantial donation of 300 sacks of premium grade rice to the Cebu Provincial Government as aid for the Capitol’s province-wide school feeding program.
In a meeting on September 2, Atty. Marc Anthony Patriarca handed to Gov. Gwen Garcia a sack of rice at the Governor’s Office in a ceremonial turn-over of the donation on the occasion of BOC Port of Cebu’s 138th Founding Anniversary celebration.
It was witnessed by Board Member Loren Singco as well as other officials of BOC.
“Our employees at the Bureau of Customs have come together to support this important cause. We are proud to contribute to the Capitol’s school feeding program, which plays a vital role in the health and education of our children,” Atty. Patriarca, assessment division chief of the BOC Port of Cebu, told Sugbo News.
He added that at least 300 BOC employees from the Port of Cebu and the sub-ports of Bohol and Dumaguete raised approximately P700,000 which was used in purchasing the rice, showcasing the Bureau’s dedication to making a tangible difference in the community.
The rice donation will directly benefit public school students of Cebu Province, from Kindergarten to Grade 12, who are attending in 1,494 DepEd schools all over the province.
The Sugbo School Feeding Program provides one nutritious meal a day to at least 900,000 enrolled students of DepEd in Cebu Province. While the Capitol purchases the rice which is then distributed to all public schools, the meals are prepared by volunteer parents under the supervision of the Parent-Teacher Association in each school.
Governor Gwen thanked BOC Port of Cebu for their belief in and support to the program especially that it has been proven to have helped the Cebuano students perform better in class.
The Governor also invited the BOC Port of Cebu officials to attend a feeding program for them to see firsthand the impact of their generous donation on the students. | JMT