Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has successfully provided nutritious hot meals to 1.084 million Filipino children across 1,619 local government units (LGUs) under its Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), achieving 57 percent of its annual target.
According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao stated that the program, which began in June, aims to reach 1.89 million children by year-end. "Nasa 57 percent na po tayo ng ating (We are already at 57% of our) total target children sa Supplementary Feeding Program this year. In the span of two months since June, may 1,084,122 na mga bata na ang nakakakain ng masustansyang pagkain (Within two months since June, 1,084,122 children have already received nutritious meals)," Dumlao remarked in a statement.
The SFP, also known as Batang Nutri-Care, offers nutritious hot meals and milk for 180 days to children aged 3 to 5 in Child Development Centers (CDCs) and Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP). This initiative is part of the DSWD's effort within the government's Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program to combat childhood malnutrition.
In addition to hot meals, the program provides milk and fresh milk-based products to 43,140 beneficiaries in 540 LGUs identified as priority areas due to high poverty rates and significant undernutrition. Overall, the DSWD plans to deliver milk supplementation to 180,265 children.
"Tuloy-tuloy po ang ating pamamahagi ng hot meals at milk sa ating mga benepisyaryo hanggang sa huling buwan ng taon. Ang gusto po ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian, dapat sa loob ng anim na buwan ay di hamak na mas malusog at maganda na ang kalagayan ng bawat batang kabilang sa ating supplementary feeding program (We will continue distributing hot meals and milk to our beneficiaries until the last month of the year. Secretary Rex Gatchalian wants every child in our supplementary feeding program to be significantly healthier and in better condition within six months)," Dumlao added.
By July 16, the DSWD had allocated PHP5.31 billion for the SFP, representing 55.57 percent of the PHP9.25-billion budget for meals, milk supplementation, and operational resources nationwide.
The program also involves parents and guardians through the Parent Effectiveness Service (PES), which offers practical advice on maintaining healthy nutrition at home. "Parents and guardians are the primary source of knowledge in having a healthy lifestyle sa loob ng tahanan (inside homes). Dapat even after the 180-day implementation ng SFP, alam pa rin ng mga magulang kung paano mapanatili ang masustansyang pamumuhay kahit na hindi gumagastos ng malaki (parents should still know how to maintain a healthy lifestyle without spending a lot)," Dumlao emphasized.
In 2025, the SFP provided fortified meals to over 1.59 million children and milk to 106,834 undernourished children, utilizing PHP5.7 billion in funding and benefiting 1,481 LGUs nationwide.
