'Food for School' program launched
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently marked the ceremonial launching of the Food-for-school program for Iloilo Province in Brgy. Tumay Day Care Center in Mina, Iloilo.
DSWD-6 Regional Nutritionist Sally Gayoma said the program primarily aims to improve the school attendance of pre-schoolers and grade 1 pupils by addressing problems on hunger and malnutrition.
"Based on the Social Weather Survey (SWS) conducted since 2004, there is an increasing incidence of hunger in the country. In its 2006 1st quarter report, 16% of people in the Visayas region (regions 6, 7 and 8) experienced hunger. In an effort to address this concern, the Food-for-school program was launched," Gayoma said.
DSWD-6 OIC Regional Director Teresita S. Rosales explained further that the program also aims to motivate young children to diligently attend school.
"Usually, young children are compelled to miss school just so they could help their parents earn a living. There are also times when children go to school with an empty stomach thus, they become sleepy and inattentive in the classroom. Through the Food-for-school program, pre-schoolers will be inspired to attend classes because aside from learning, they also get to help their family," Rosales said.
Under the program, pre-school and grade 1 pupils are each given one kilo of iron-fortified rice per school attendance for the duration of 120 days. In Region 6, 15,250 pre-school children are the target beneficiaries of the program covering 31 municipalities in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental. In Iloilo, it is implemented in eight municipalities -- Mina, Badiangan, Batad, San Rafael, Tubungan, Bingawan, San Miguel and New Lucena.
Present during the launching were National Food Authority (NFA) Provincial Manager Hedy Jardeleza, Mina Mayor Rey P. Grabato, 5th District Board Member Domingo Oso, Bingawan Mayor Suzette Mamon, Iloilo Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Neneth Q. Pador, Sangguniang Bayan Member Lolita Teologo and municipal social welfare and development officers and barangay councils of covered municipalities.
(DSWD)