Gov’t to spend P8.9 B for school feeding programs

MANILA, Philippines -  A total of P8.9 billion is included in the government’s spending program this year to implement two anti-hunger initiatives aimed at establishing a free feeding program in all public schools and provide children full support from conception up to two years old.

The two initiatives, which have been Sen. Grace Poe’s advocacies since joining the legislature in 2013, are funded in the 2017 budgets of the departments of Education (DepEd); Health (DOH); Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC).

To implement the free feeding program, P4.2 billion has been allocated to the DepEd, the implementing agency of the school-based feeding program, while P4.4 billion has been earmarked for the DSWD to implement the supplemental feeding program.

For the First 1,000 Days Program jointly managed by the DOH and the NNC, P294 million has been allocated to implement the natal care program for expectant mothers, and health care and feeding program for toddlers.

 “We have supported these nutrition programs of the government, and our next step is to institutionalize them through legislation to make these programs permanent,” Poe said.

Poe is a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1297 or the proposed Act Creating a National School Feeding Program to Combat Hunger and Undernutrition for all Basic Education Students.

Under the measure, the DepEd, in coordination with the NNC and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, shall prepare a menu that satisfies at least one-third of the daily nutritional requirement of a child based on the Philippine Dietary Reference Intake.

It shall be drawn up according to age range, type of school, and local cultural eating preferences.

“The school feeding program ensures that our children are properly nourished to enable them to grow up healthy, smart and alert. At the same time, by institutionalizing this program, we are giving livelihood opportunities for local producers and suppliers, as the ingredients for the menu will be sourced from them,” she said.

Poe urged the implementing agencies to maximize the budget given to them, and warned them the Senate shall keep a tight watch on how the agencies spend the money.