Feeding program to improve children's nutritional status
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral expects the Supplemental Feeding Program will help improve the nutritional status of school children in the country.
Secretary Cabral said that as early as March 2007, the DSWD had sub-allotted P256 million to the concerned DSWD regional offices, and "our regional offices have already transferred the funds to the different Day Care Student-Parents Groups (DCSPGs) which will manage the feeding program."
"We have received reports from our field offices that the feeding program in other areas will start at the opening of classes next week," Cabral said.
She explained that at the start of the feeding program, the children will undergo deworming in nearby health centers. Their baseline height and weight will also be taken. At the end of the feeding program, the children's weight and height will be taken again to determine how the feeding program has improved their nutritional status.
The DSWD Secretary said that the children will be given milk and hot meals using available indigenous food materials that will provide at least one-third of the recommended daily energy and nutrients intake of children three to five years old.
For Western Visayas, P18 million was apportioned for the 31 municipalities in the six provinces of the region.
DSWD VI Director Teresita Rosales said that the supplemental feeding is needed to address hunger and malnutrition.
(PIA/T.Villavert)