By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
The government is set to roll out a P5.182-billion supplemental feeding program aimed at providing hot meals to 1.5 million children enrolled in child development centers (CDCs) nationwide, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced Tuesday.
In a press briefing at Malacañang, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants children enrolled in CDCs to have proper nutrition and food.
The program, targeting young learners in daycare facilities, will serve hot meals daily for 120 days starting this month.
To improve nutritional value, the cost per hot meal has been increased from P15 to P25.
“This will ensure na sapat iyong nutritional value na natatanggap ng mga kabataan,” Gatchalian said.
Undernourished children enrolled in the centers will also receive fresh milk valued at P22 per child.
The feeding program follows a fixed meal plan based on the “Pinggang Pinoy” guidelines prescribed by the National Nutrition Council. Food procurement will be handled by local government units.
The Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology developed the visual tool guide “Pinggang Pinoy” to serve as a quick and easy basis for determining how much to eat per mealtime in order to be healthy.
To support local livelihoods, the government is also pushing for procurement to benefit small farmers and agricultural cooperatives through community-level sourcing under the Sagip Saka Law.
“Ang instruction ng ating Pangulo… ang nakikinabang ay iyong mga magsasaka rin or iyong mga small agri coops (cooperatives) sa lugar na iyon,” Gatchalian said.
The program is part of the Marcos administration’s broader effort to combat child malnutrition and support local food systems, especially in underserved areas.
