A total of 48,249 undernourished children across Region 1 are benefiting from the school-based milk feeding program this year, providing nutritional support to learners who need it most.
“The initiative seeks to help address undernutrition among schoolchildren while supporting their growth, health and ability to participate actively in their education,” said science research specialist Melinda Galacgac, the milk-feeding coordinator of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center in Batac City, in an interview on Friday.
For 25 days, selected beneficiaries from Kindergarten to Grade 6 in the seven Schools Division Offices of Ilocos Norte, Batac, Laoag, Ilocos Sur, Vigan and Candon, as well as the province of Abra, will be given pasteurized and sterilized milk locally sourced from dairy farmers in the region.
“The first delivery started this month of September, and we hope to complete all delivery schedules to target beneficiaries in March next year,” she said.
The government has allocated PHP30 million this year to address child undernutrition in the region.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently led the nationwide rollout of the expanded School-Based Feeding Program, saying the government is removing hunger as a barrier to learning by ensuring more public school children receive nutritious meals. (PNA)
