PCSO gives P100,000 grant to Foundation University’s walking program

By Rachelle M. Nessia

Monday 21st of May 2012

DUMAGUETE CITY, May 21 (PIA) -- The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is giving a grant of P100,000 for the walking program of Foundation University (FU) in Dumaguete City.

This was disclosed by Dr. Aparicio Mequi, FU’s director of Institute for Youth Sports and Peace, in a recent meeting of the university administrative council.

The grant came after Mequi submitted a proposal to PCSO citing the need to sustain FU’s Quarter Marathon Walk for Wellness and the Environment (QMWWE) program.

The walking program was institutionalized by FU after Mequi introduced it in 2009 requiring all Physical Education students to walk a quarter marathon or 10.5 kilometers as a requirement for passing the course.

Mequi initiated the program after a study conducted by Physical Education teacher Kathleen Dellona showed that almost half of FU’s incoming freshman students exhibited health risks due to obesity, which is a precursor to non-communicable lifestyle diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and heart ailments.

“Six QMWWEs have been staged so far, each with some 1,000 walkers and FU spends about P15,000 for each staging. Clearly, there is a need for a sponsor to sustain it,” Mequi noted.

With the funding support from PCSO, Mequi said the university is committed to sustain the Quarter Marathon up to early next year. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from Joel Llanos)