A total of 126 municipalities and cities are now implementing the Department’s Supplemental Feeding (SF) Program for children of local government unit – run Day Care Centers in their respective localities.   Seventeen of the total 139 municipalities and seven cities have not started as eight of these have not submitted the required documents like project proposal and memorandum of agreement, while nine others have its documents for approval by the Field Office.

DSWD Field Office Eight Director Leticia Corillo bared that the agency has to fast track its operation, right when classes commenced last June, and Day Care Centers as well opened.

Before the program began, the Field Office had meetings with the six Provincial Managers of the National Food Authority (NFA) on the arrangements of rice issuances. Since NFA cannot deliver the rice directly to the day care centers, as prescribed in the guidelines, it was agreed that local government units, where day care centers are located, will provide the transport facility so rice will be delivered on time.

Corillo said a DSWD field worker will always be around during the issuance of the commodity. “We want to ensure efficiency in delivering the program; we don’t want that the children’s welfare will be sacrificed,” she emphasized, adding that the SF serves as the agency’s contribution to Early Childhood Care and Development – a holistic approach towards developing the child’s physical and mental growth, from conception to age five.

The said program involves feeding of hot meals to three-to-four-year old children who are malnourished and at-risk, as well as five-year-old children who are not catered by the DepEd – pre-schools, for a period of 120 days. Parents of these children take the responsibility of preparing the meals, and also undergo intensive nutrition education classes.

Regional Nutritionist Pauline Nadera reported that the feeding is only food supplementation, aside from the children’s regular meals at home, done during breaks either in the morning or afternoon session. “Of course, there will be weighing at the start of the feeding and monthly weighing thereafter, to check if their nutritional status have improved, “ she said.