3 Capiz towns commended on feeding program
Roxas City -- Three municipalities in Capiz have been commended by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza Cabral for being the first local government units to implement the feeding program in Western Visayas.
These are Cuartero, Dao and Sapian towns based on an online article posted in the DSWD website. Other municipalities admired by Sec. Cabral were Jovellar in Albay, Milagros in Masbate, and Sta. Marcel in Kalinga, Apayao of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
An estimated 5,000 day care pupils from the 166 daycare centers in these areas are being fed and now benefiting from the milk and hot meals that are provided to them daily through the feeding program.
The program aims to improve the nutritional status of children in time for school opening.
"We received report from our field offices that the feeding program in other areas will start at the opening of classes next week", Secretary Cabral disclosed.
Secretary Cabral added that as early as March 2007, the DSWD has sub-allotted P256 million to the concerned DSWD regional offices which subsequently transferred the funds to the Day Care Students-Parents Groups (DCSPG) which will manage the feeding program.
The 2006 supplemental budget provided P256M for the feeding program. In addition, P750 M has been provided in the 2007 General Appropriations Act so that the supplemental feeding program can be continuously implemented during the 2007-2008 school year.
"The Children will be given milk and hot meals using available indigenous food materials that will provide at least one-third (1/3) of the recommended daily energy and nutrients intake of children three (3) to five (5) years old", Secretary Cabral emphasized.
Secretary Cabral explained that at the start of the feeding program, the children will undergo de-worming in nearby health centers. Their baseline height and weight will also be taken. At the end of the feeding program, the children's height and weight will be taken again to determine how the feeding program has improved their nutritional status.
A total of 289,877 children from the 369 target municipalities are expected to benefit from the program.
(PIA/A.Lumaque)