P4.8-M earmarked for young learners' food subsidy
Zamboanga City (2 October) -- A total of 2,136 preschoolers have been recipients of the Food for School Program in Region-IX. About P2.7 M had been allocated for the first 3 target areas in Roxas and Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte and Dipolog City.
Rice distribution also starts this month in 13 expansion areas covering the municipalities of Sominot, San Miguel, Tigbao, Pitogo, V. Sagun, Tabina, Guipos and Josefina in Zamboanga del Sur; Mutia and La Libertad in Zamboanga del Norte; and Olutanga, Talusan and Mabuhay in Zamboanga Sibugay. DSWD has earmarked P2.1 M for these areas for 23 feeding days.
The FSP is one of the government's various initiatives in response to the increasing incidence of hunger in the country. It is a food subsidy for grade 1 and preschool children enrolled in public elementary schools and day care centers who belong to poor families providing a daily ration of 1 kilo of rice per child for a limited period of time.
Ms. Fe Dela Cruz, Information Officer of DSWD 9 said that the target provinces and municipalities were selected based on the degree of food insecurity and vulnerability using the Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS).
To sustain family food security, increase school retention and improve the nutritional status of children, parents of pre-schoolers and the Parents-Teachers-Community Associations (PTCAs) are being mobilized. They are involved in capacitating activities like values formation, sustainable food production/gardening technologies, livelihood projects, nutrition information and education activities as well as parent effectiveness and home care sessions.
The program is a collaborative effort of the National Nutrition Council, Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, the National Food Authority and the local government units who are at the forefront of service delivery. (PIA Pagadian) [top]
