After a successful launching, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to pursue with its strengthened informative drive, dubbed as “ Ang Batang Bright Eats Right, Sa Day Care Center Alright ” Campaign of the agency’s Supplemental Feeding Program (SFP).
The region – initiated project is currently gathering more positive stories from the field.
“Our intention is to build a strong coalition of partners because we want to hit the real core of the SFP which is to nurture the development of the child. The program is not merely to fill empty or half – filled stomachs while children are having their day at the center,” DSWD Field Office Eight Regional Director Remia Tapispisan.
What the Director was trying to mean was that the essence of the SFP was to instill in the minds of parents and everyone else the value of good nutrition and health care for children in their formative years. With the campaign dubbed as the “Ang Batang Bright Eats Right, Sa Day Care Center Alright,” it will create a more lasting impact as the public will continuously be reminded of the good intentions of the program, the DSWD Regional Director explained.
Almost a hundred advocates of the DSWD’s Supplemental Feeding Program (SFP) participated in the region’s initiated campaign, during a recent launching of a yearlong information, education, and communication drive at the Activity Center of Robinson’s Place in Tacloban City. The fight calls for a far more united and increased action in implementing the feeding program from among pre-schoolers in local government unit (LGU) – run Day Care Centers for Children (DCCs).
At the launching activity, both government and private media practitioners were well – represented, as the Philippine Information Agency (P.I.A.) remained to be a strong partner of the Field Office. Save for Northern Samar, the Provincial Managers of five other provinces of the P.I.A. were around to lend support.
SFP Focal Person, Pauline Nadera, revealed that the program started way back in 2011, and there are undoubtedly a lot of interesting stories worth sharing from those involved in this undertaking. “We cannot afford that this program end into waste because the government poured in a lion investment for the welfare of the children, “ she said.
For the first cycle of implementation in year 2011, a total of Php 135, 402, 000.00 was earmarked for the 101, 809 children in 4, 044 day care centers for children spread out in the region. In the program’s second cycle in the year that followed – Php 165, 376, 150.00 for 110, 768 kids of 4, 083 DCCs; and this year – Php165, 376, 150.00 for 110, 678 pre-schoolers in 4, 083 centers.
Nadera added that with the kick – off of the information campaign, it will ignite positive stories on how the feeding program is affecting the lives of children and their families as a whole. Media partners present have expressed interest and support over the SFP, and even signed the tarpaulin of commitment the DSWD has prepared.
Tacloban City Administrator, lawyer Tecson John Lim, who stood for the City Government of Tacloban, also articulated about the backing of the city administration. Other local government units which were represented were Palo, Julita, and Villaba municipalities of Leyte province, and Sta. Rita in Samar.
Alma Permejo, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer of Julita, cited that the program promoted volunteerism especially from among mothers of Day Care children. She said the spirit lives on, while at the same time,
One parent, Jolly Pearl Onida, of Palo, Leyte shared how the SFP developed her child to become more active and energetic. She revealed that going to the day care center from Monday to Friday was something to look forward to.
Joshua Baqueros, a day care child in one of the day care centers of Palo, stood up to tell his own story. The boy said he enjoys eating rice meal with children at the Center.
Nadera said the provision of meals is just in addition to the regular meals the children take in their homes.