Gov’t to spend P12.50 a child in feeding plan

BAGUIO CITY—The government is spending P12.50 per child per day to improve the nutrition of more than 40,000 children in the Cordillera, according to officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said her department has started a six-month feeding program aimed at improving the health of children aged three to four.

She said a study made by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) showed that hunger among children has persisted in the last 10 years.

“The supplemental feeding program is a big challenge,” said Soliman.

The program, she said, will cover 49,000 day-care centers in different provinces.

Soliman said the government is aiming to improve nutrition among children aged three to four. The children here were fed with a complete meal of meatballs, soup, rice and squash maja (dessert made from squash and corn).

Betty Fangasan, city social welfare officer, said the government is spending P12.50 a meal for every child.

“The program used to cover selected students but now, we have to feed all children because of the government’s thrust in improving their health,” Fangasan said.