NAPC Commends DepEd and DSWD for Child Nutrition Initiatives
In a significant move towards combating child malnutrition, the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) has lauded the efforts of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for their robust feeding programs.
Secretary Lope Santos III, during the joint Technical Action Officers - Technical Working Group meetings, praised the leadership of Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte, and Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian for their dedication to the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act. The act has been instrumental in the sustained and expanded implementation of feeding programs that have reached millions of Filipino children.
The DepEd has earmarked a substantial budget of PHP 11.7 billion for the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) for the school year 2024-2025. This program is set to benefit approximately 1.7 million undernourished schoolchildren from Kindergarten to Grade 6, providing them with nutritious food products and milk for 200 days. This initiative not only aims to combat undernutrition but also seeks to improve classroom attendance.
Similarly, the DSWD has allocated PHP 4 billion for its Supplemental Feeding Program in 2024. This program will provide food and fresh milk for 120 days to children attending Child Development Centers and Supervised Neighborhood Play, managed by local governments.
Secretary Santos highlighted the multifaceted benefits of these programs, which extend beyond health and education. They are also seen as a catalyst for creating employment opportunities, particularly in the local dairy and food-processing sectors.
These initiatives are pivotal in addressing the multi-dimensional aspects of poverty, such as health, nutrition, education, and employment. The NAPC reaffirms its commitment to work collaboratively with other national agencies in a whole-of-nation approach, aiming to secure fundamental rights for all Filipinos and achieve single-digit poverty rates, aligning with the Marcos administration’s vision for a thriving ‘Bagong Pilipinas’.