Bukidnon town launches feeding program for 4,000 daycare children

QUEZON, Bukidnon — At least 4,000 daycare children here will receive daily nutritious meals for the next six months under a P18.36-million government-funded feeding program aimed at combating malnutrition and improving child development.

The program, which formally started on June 2 as public schools prepare for the opening of classes on June 8, will benefit 4,080 children enrolled in 119 Child Development Centers, 12 Private Learning Centers, and two Supervised Neighborhood Play centers across the municipality.

Implemented by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), the initiative is funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to help ensure that young children receive adequate nutrition during their formative years.

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Food supplies distributed to the centers include rice and ingredients for hot meals, as well as supplemental food items such as Nutri-Cookies and Nutri-Juice.

Local officials said the feeding program will run for 180 days, providing regular nutritious meals designed to support children’s physical growth, cognitive development, and overall health.

The initiative comes as concerns over child malnutrition continue to challenge many low-income families, particularly amid rising food prices and economic pressures affecting household budgets.

Studies have consistently shown that proper nutrition during early childhood is crucial to a child’s learning capacity, school readiness, and long-term development.

The local government, under Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III, said the investment in child nutrition is an investment in the municipality’s future, giving children a stronger foundation for learning and growth./coa