Accelerated Hunger Mitigation program gains ground in WV
The government's Hunger Mitigation Program has been gaining ground in priority areas in the region with a 100 percent accomplishment as of date, as compared to the 96 percent accomplishment nationwide.
National Nutrition Regional Coordinator Nona Tad-y said during the regular Social Development Committee Meeting held at NEDA that positive indications of project success are exhibited in the experiences of the beneficiaries.
Ms. Tad-y said that based on monitoring reports, the Food For School project has improved school attendance of children, improved their nutritional status and strengthened parents-school-community relationships.
She added that the project has also enabled the National Food Authority (NFA) offices in the localities to establish rapport with families and schools, besides getting the beneficiaries to recognize the efforts of government in providing for their daily rice supply.
For the region alone, the government has spent more than P54 million for the Food-for-School project, while the NFA has released about 2,700, 290 kilos of rice, estimated to be 90 kilos per child for the poorest households in target communities.
With about P20 per kilo, each child-beneficiary has been recipient of P1,800 worth of rice from the NFA, through the program.
In citing EO 412 of President Arroyo, Ms. Tad-y said the Administration respects the individual?s right to adequate food and it is the State's responsibility to answer the need.
She also said that with the implementation of the Food-for-School project the government recognizes hunger as a development issue that could hamper economic growth.
The Administration has taken the option of spending more on infrastructures like schools and farm-to-market roads to bridge knowledge and unify the country.
Meanwhile, the government's Gulayan Ng Bayan Project and the Tindahan Natin are also fast tracking their accomplishments, with the Department of Agriculture and the NFA as well as local government units on the lead. To date, the Tindahan Natin garnered a 61 percent accomplishment of target.
(PIA 6/ESS)