In the first Food-for-School (FSP) Coordination Meeting for the year, the Regional Technical Working Group (TWG) were re-oriented on the modifications of Implementing Rules And Regulations 9994.

The inter-agency committee met late last month at the DSWD Field Office in Tacloban City, with the National Nutrition Council Regional Coordinator Carina Santiago presiding the meeting in place of DSWD Field Office Eight Director Leticia Corillo who was on official business in Davao  City.  DSWD Eight O.I.C.-Assistant Regional Director Jaime Eclavea was also present.

In said gathering, what came up were concrete recommendations, specifically on the mode of rice delivery.  While the guidelines states that “the NFA trucker, accompanied by an NFA Focal person, shall deliver rice directly to the storage of the elementary school or day care center, consistent with the program’s door-to-door policy, ” the provincial branches of the National Food Authority (NFA) in the region poured out their common sentiments on the problem of rice delivery, saying there are many hard-to-reach areas.

NFA Southern Leyte Provincial Manager Mario Cayanong said that “the better to be able to serve the children efficiently and effectively.”

Santiago stated that only results to delayed deliveries; hence, not really serving its purpose of assuring rice on the table of every family of a Day Care child who go to the center everyday.

On the other hand, Eclavea clarified on other provisions of  the IRR which are vague, like the costs of handling which are to be shouldered by the NFA.  He recommended that the TWG consider NFA’s suggestion that it be relieved from such responsibility.

In the region, recipient – areas for school year 2010 to 2011 are the 142   poorest cities and municipalities of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.

Dadap said there are 114, 977 children of 3,943 Day Care Centers targeted for the daily distribution of one kilo of rice  for every Day Care child, for a period of 120 days per school year.

In an interview, DSWD Field Office Eight Director Corillo revealed that there is a new directive that the distribution of the 60 % iron-fortified rice for Day Care children will be prioritized in areas where the PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM (4Ps) is implemented.

The Program Management Bureau of the DSWD Central Office last June 5 requested from each region the final validated target beneficiaries coming from the 4Ps areas, but the FSP Focal Persons will still meet for a consultation – meeting on July 27 to 30 in Cebu City to really settle the whole thing.

The 4Ps is a poverty reduction strategy that provides money to extreme poor households to invest  in human capital by sending their children to school and bringing them to health centers for preventive check-ups.