MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / June 8, 2014) – The Philippine government said it appropriated over P1 billion to fund a feeding program for school children aimed at eradicating malnutrition.
A government spokesman Herminio Coloma said lead agency for the program is the National Nutrition Council – which is under the Department of Health – in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Interior and Local Government and the Commission on Higher Education.
“Pinapatupad po ‘yon programa sa loob ng 120 araw at pagkatapos ng pag-release ng standardized malunggay recipe, at meron po silang tinatawag na 20-day cycle menu, at ang nationwide implementation ay pinopondohan ng General Appropriations Act. Ang pangkalahatang budget para diyan ay isang bilyon walumpung milyong piso (P1,080,000,000),” Coloma said.
He said under this program, school canteens were given guidelines on how to provide proper nutrition to children by giving only nutrition-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables.
Coloma said this is apart from the supplementary feeding program being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and separate from feeding programs of the Local Government Units in partnership with private groups and corporations.
“Ang mga programa pong ito ay naglalayon na ibalik sa normal na kalagayang pang-nutrisyon ang ating mga kabataang mag-aaral,” Coloma said.
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