Food for School Program launched in Iloilo
The Food for School Program, a poverty alleviation program of the national government was formally launched in Iloilo Province last Monday, August 14, 2006 in a ceremony held at the Brgy. Tumay Day Care Center, Mina, Iloilo.
The Food for School Program with theme "Bigas para sa Mag-aaral at Pamilya", a joint undertaking of the Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD) and the National Food Authority (NFA) is an immediate intervention to address hunger incidence among families through their children in the Day Care Centers. A daily ration of one kilo of rice would be given to each child who attends day care for 120 days. This assures the family of rice on its table everyday which would eventually contribute to the improvement of their nutritional status.
Eight municipalities cited to have very high incidence of malnutrition are selected as initial recipients of the program. A total of 2,930 day care children from the municipalities of Batad, Badiangan, Bingawan, Mina, New Lucena, San Miguel, San Rafael and Tubungan are the targeted beneficiaries of the program.
Iron Fortified Rice is distributed to the day care centers. This is in compliance to R.A. 2000 or the Food Fortification Law which according to Hedy Jardeleza, NFA Provincial Manager, "is an effective and sustainable way to ensure that children are provided essential micronutrients needed in their growth and development.”
Teresita S. Rosales, Regional Director DSWD FO VI, emphasized that day care children should first undergo deworming from the Department of Health to help ensure the effectivity of the program.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Domingo B. Oso in behalf of Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Sr. said that the program "would ensure that social justice would be given to the people of the province." He also added that giving children proper nutrition makes them more attentive and retentive that they would give better performance in school.
Despite the bad weather Badiangan Mayor Suzette Mamon, Mina Mayor Rey Grabato and Vice Mayor Evangeline Dahler together with the Sangguniang Bayan Members and Barangay Captains of Mina attended the launching.
Neneth Q. Pador, Provincial Social Welfare & Development head, the Municipal Social Welfare & Development Officers from the eight municipalities and personnel from NFA and DSWD also attended to show full support to the program.
(Ma. Janice B. Gancero /PSWDO)