Ilocos: A total of 156,706 learners in Kindergarten, Grade 1, 2, and 3 categorized as severely wasted and wasted will benefit from the carabao milk campaign of the Department of Education (DepEd) to improve their health and overall well-being.

According to Philippines News Agency, DepEd Ilocos Region nutritionist dietitian Maricris Rimas stated that the program is part of the school-based feeding initiative with two components-the regular component and the milk component. She explained that the beneficiaries identified as severely wasted and wasted will undergo a 15-day supplementary milk feeding particularly of carabao milk.

Child wasting refers to a child who is too thin for his or her height and is the result of recent rapid weight loss or the failure to gain weight. "They will be given 180 milliliters of pasteurized carabao milk once a day during school days," Rimas noted, adding that the program will start on July 14 in several schools.

Of the total number of beneficiaries, 109,320 are in Pangasinan, 19,848 in La Union, 14,662 in Ilocos Sur, and 12,876 in Ilocos Norte. Rimas highlighted that carabao milk has more nutritional value compared to sterilized or cow's milk, emphasizing its creamier texture, ease of digestion among children, and higher calorie content.

The total beneficiaries are also part of the 120-day feeding program that provides nutribun or hot meals to the severely wasted and wasted learners from Kindergarten to Grade 6. Rimas expressed that improving the health of the learners will also enhance their overall well-being and learning.

Meanwhile, the milk campaign also benefits the carabao milk producers in the region. Rimas mentioned that the program is in partnership with the Philippine Carabao Center and farmer cooperatives.