Congressman Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. has relaunched his Malunggay Ice Cream program in time for the celebration of Nutrition Month 2026, bringing the nutritious treat to thousands of daycare learners across the First District of Pampanga.
The program officially kicked off on July 16 at Lourdes Sur East Daycare Center in Angeles City, where Lazatin personally distributed the malunggay-flavored ice cream to students.
A total of 7,981 daycare pupils are expected to benefit from the initiative, including 3,150 learners from 67 daycare centers in Angeles City, 3,131 from 64 centers in Mabalacat City, and 1,700 from 33 centers in Magalang.
First introduced by Lazatin in July 2025, the Malunggay Ice Cream program aims to promote proper nutrition among young children while encouraging healthier eating habits. The initiative is fully funded by the congressman through his personal resources.
The program builds on Lazatin’s earlier nutrition campaign launched during his term as Angeles City mayor. In 2022, he introduced the malunggay-enriched bun known as “Pusong Mamon,” which became part of the city’s daycare nutrition program.
The initiative yielded significant results, with Angeles City recording a 63% reduction in the number of malnourished children. Cases dropped from 1,500 in 2022 to 563 by August 2023, highlighting the impact of sustained nutrition interventions.
