WESTERN Visayas is getting a P374 million-worth feeding program.
The amount will be spent for the implementation of Supplementary Feeding program for three to five years old children enrolled in day care service.
If distributed, Iloilo will get P118.4 million; Antique, P41 million; Capiz, P34.9 million; Aklan, P26.4 million; and Guimaras, P8.7 million. The amount also includes P145.2 million for the neighboring Negros Island Region (NIR).
“Through the feeding program, we will be able to contribute to curb hunger in the region, specially among young children,” said Rebecca P. Geamala, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 6 which is implementing the project.
The amount will benefit 208,278 children in the region.
The feeding program provides food, in addition to the regular meals,to enrolled day care center children.
This is in the form of hot meals as recommended by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) and served during break time to children.
This program is implemented in response to the 2006 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) conducted by the National Statistics Office which showed that 11 percent of Filipino families had income that cannot buy the food needed by family members for nutritional well-being and health.
These families are considered hungry and food poor.
Also, it aims to improve knowledge, attitude and practices of children enrolled in day care centers, parents and caregivers through intensified nutrition and health education.
In the same manner, it targets to improve and sustain the nutritional status of all target children and refer to health units medical and nutrition-related problems of children./dswd6/May Grecia-Rago