Roxas city: The Department of Education (DepEd) has listed 188,167 learners from Western Visayas as beneficiaries of its school-based feeding program (SBFP), which officially kicked off nationwide on Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the regional rollout in Western Visayas was held at the Banica Elementary School in Barangay Banica, Roxas City. It was attended by 50 learners, who were served a meal of tinolang manok (Filipino chicken soup), rice, banana, and milk. DepEd Western Visayas Information Officer Hernani Escullar Jr. emphasized that the SBFP is designed to ensure that kindergarten and Grade 1 learners, as well as wasted and severely wasted Grades 2 to 6 students, receive adequate nutrition while at school. This initiative aims to improve their health status and enable better learning outcomes.
The SBFP is a flagship intervention by DepEd, targeting the improvement of nutritional status, health, and academic performance of undernourished learners. Under the program, beneficiaries will receive daily nutritious meals for a period ranging from a minimum of 120 days to a maximum of 220 days. Additionally, milk supplementation will be provided for 30 days.
The selection of recipients was based on the 2023 nutritional assessment, ensuring that the most in-need children benefit from the program. The national kick-off is themed 'Creating a Future Where No Child Goes Hungry,' aligning with the ongoing Nutrition Month celebration.
The launch event concluded with a tree-planting activity under the Eco Champions Program, spearheaded by Regional Director Cristito Eco, further emphasizing the community's commitment to both nutrition and environmental sustainability.
