FIRST DISTRICT, Pampanga – Pampanga First District Representative Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. launched his Mobile Soup Kitchen Program, in cooperation with Red Pillars Foundation, on July 24, 2025.
Accompanied by the Red Pillars mobile kitchen truck, Lazatin personally delivered hot meals – the traditional sopas – to evacuated families in Barangay Tabun, Mabalacat City.
The Mobile Soup Kitchen is the first initiative under Lazatin’s comprehensive nutrition program in the First District of Pampanga, to be implemented through a partnership with Red Pillars Foundation.
Under the partnership, no government funds shall be downloaded to Red Pillars; instead, Lazatin’s office shall provide support in the form of labor and personnel, while Red Pillars will be responsible for implementing Lazatin’s nutrition programs in the First District.
Through this partnership, Lazatin aims to address undernourishment in the First District with a three-month support program for undernourished children, carried out through the Red Pillars Foundation.
Lazatin has always been a fervent champion of proper nutrition. As Angeles City Mayor, he launched the Malunggay bun – dubbed ‘Pusong Mamon’ – in 2022, which was distributed to identified malnourished children as part of Angeles City’s nutrition program.
A year following the launching of the ‘Pusong Mamon,’ Angeles City recorded a 63% decrease in the rate of malnourished kids. From 1,500 kids classified as malnourished in 2022, the number went down to 563 in August 2023.
Now as Pampanga First District Representative, one of Lazatin’s first initiatives is the launching of the first ‘Malunggay Ice Cream’ in the First District of Pampanga on July 1, 2025, to be distributed to day care students as part of Lazatin’s initiative to promote nutrition among young children.
The Malunggay Ice Cream is funded by Lazatin out of his own pocket and is being distributed to day care students in the First District.
Lazatin has stated that he will continue prioritizing nutrition and health in his legislative agenda.
Lazatin vows propose measures to expand the coverage of the Primary Care Package, in accordance with the Universal Health Care Act or R.A. 11224, to include check-ups and laboratory tests in order to lessen the out-of-pocket expenses of patients, as well as to include Mental Health emergency, psychiatric and neurological services, and mental health gap action program.
The Red Pillars Foundation is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and duly recognized by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Angeles as a People’s Organization.