Poverty alleviation adviser Larry Gadon said he will be focusing more on projects concerning the nutrition of the youth, starting off with a feeding program called "BBM: Batang Busog, Malusog."
Gadon, whose appointment was announced on Monday, bared some details of his first project as the anti-poverty czar which was named after President Ferdinand Marcos who is commonly referred to as BBM.
The project is expected to launch in July, coinciding with the country's celebration of nutrition month.
"Ako ay magkakaroon ng programa na tatawagan kong BBM Movement. Ang ibig sabihin nito ay ‘Batang Busog, Malusog.’ Kung sila (youth) ay kumpleto ng nutrients sa katawan ay magiging mas magiging maganda ang kanilang focus sa edukasyon at kung sila ay may magandang edukasyon ay yan ang magdudulot sa kanila ng magandang kinabukasan," Gadon said in a Laging Handa public briefing.
"Dito ay magkakaroon tayo ng programa tungkol sa nutrition and feeding programs," he said.
The disbarred lawyer said he will tap big companies and businessmen to "adopt" a public school in their areas where they will implement the program as part of their corporate social responsibility.
“Magkakaroon ako ng link sa kanila na kanilang i-adopt itong programa na ito bilang corporate social responsibility. [Hihikayatin ko] sila mag-adopt ng isang public school sa kanilang nasasakupang areas upang sila ay [maging] tulong sa ating mga kababayan lalong lalo na sa mga elementary school na kulang ang nutrisyon ng mga kabataan,” Gadon said.
Several groups opposed Gadon's appointment to the government, citing his previous controversies as well as his suspension in January 2022 by the Supreme Court after verbally abusing journalist Raissa Robles.
Anakbayan said Gadon lacks compassion for the poor and marginalized, citing his lack of credibility.
Gadon ran in the senatorial elections under the UniTeam slate of then-standard bearer Marcos and his then-running mate Sara Duterte.
When asked about the reason for his appointment, he believes that Marcos' saw his experience in the corporate world such as in the industries of manufacturing, hotel and restaurant, healthcare administration, realty and development, and construction.
“Siguro dahil dito sa aking malawak na experience sa lahat ng industriya, ako ay kanyang napusuan na kanyang italaga o ihirang na Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation,” Gadon said.
