In the Philippines there is a disturbing practice that’s gaining ground amongst the poorest of the poor.
Trash dealers are selling garbage and scraps from restaurant rubbish bins to people who are severely poverty-stricken. They call their merchandise “pagpag,” which in Filipino refers to the act of shaking the dirt off edible portions of leftovers.
The consumption of pagpag has gained prevalence in the slums of Manila as people fight for survival. The food is frequently sour smelling, and despite attempts to boil or fry the germs out of it, pagpag is laden with disease-bearing bacteria. Parents know pagpag is not a good food source for their children, but they have no alternative.
For Compassion-sponsored children in the Philippines, the story is different. Sponsored children receive a nutritious meal every time they attend programming at their church-based child development center, and are taught basic health, hygiene and nutrition principles that prevent disease. Learn more about Child Sponsorship.