150K kids in Central Visayas get free meals, milk

Local

NEARLY 150,000 children in Central Visayas are receiving daily meals and milk through a government initiative aimed at improving child nutrition.

The program runs for 120 feeding days and targets children aged 2 to 5 years enrolled in daycare centers and child development centers.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Central Visayas (DSWD-7) implements the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) in partnership with 131 local government units (LGUs) across Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

Under the current arrangement, DSWD manages the first 60 days of feeding, while LGUs handle the remaining 60 days.

Of the 131 LGUs, 121 have adopted a fund transfer scheme, allowing them to manage part of the procurement for meals and milk, while nine LGUs continue to rely fully on DSWD-managed procurement.

Liloan town is the only LGU managing procurement for all 120 feeding days.

The program has a total budget of P451 million, with P206 million transferred to LGUs for local implementation and the remaining P245 million managed by DSWD.

Funds are used to procure raw ingredients for hot meals prepared by daycare workers with parental support, as well as milk supplied by accredited providers.

Meals meet one-third of the Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake (RENI) for children and include locally sourced fortified hot meals, nutribuns, enhanced nutripacks, and fresh milk for undernourished children.

DSWD-7 Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero said the fund transfer arrangement allows LGUs to serve meals directly while DSWD staff focus on monitoring children’s nutritional progress and providing training to daycare workers.

“This scheme benefits both parties,” Lucero said.

The program also includes growth monitoring at the start and end of each cycle and Parenting Effectiveness Sessions (PES) to educate parents on nutrition and child care.

It operates under Republic Act 11037, known as the "Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act," as part of the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program.