Patients’ meal allowance doubled

Local

FROM plain meals to proper nutrition, patients in Cebu’s provincial hospitals are now assured of better food on their trays.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has doubled the meal allowance for inpatients at four provincial and 12 district hospitals, raising it from P50 to P100 per meal or P300 per day.

Dr. Nikki Catalan, the Capitol’s public health consultant, said this is the first increase since 2019, noting that hospitals previously operated on a P150 daily food budget per patient.

“Now they’re given P100 per meal per day, that's P300 na sa three meals per day,” she said.

Catalan explained that the adjustment allows hospitals to comply with Department of Health (DOH) rules requiring at least 1,800 calories per patient daily.

The new allocation also aligns with DOH Administrative Orders No. 2022-0020 and 2025-0019, which set standards for nutrition and dietetics in government facilities.

She added that while nutritionists and dietitians must still design meals based on patients’ medical needs, the higher budget ensures adequate and healthier servings.

The DOH has recommended P247 per patient per day, and Cebu’s increase moves closer to that standard. Alongside the meal program, the Capitol is prioritizing workforce training by requiring newly hired nurses to undergo skills development before assignment.

Modules developed by DOH Central Visayas support the training, which prepares nurses to adjust effectively in their hospitals.

Catalan stressed that the initiative is not just about filling positions but about equipping nurses with the right skills to succeed.