By Ninfa B Quirante

Tacloban City (13 April) -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Food for School Program continues in Samar despite the summer vacation for Grade one children.

This was bared by the Samar National Food Authority (NFA) in an interview with PIA.

Manager Ramon Astilla said that NFA has distributed rice to some 1,038 Grade one pupil-beneficiaries in Tarangnan District with 32 schools, early this April.

This second week of April, Matuginao and Jiabong schools also received their allotment of rice good for 15 days or 15 kilos.

Under the ordinary Food for School Program, Grade one pupils are given a kilo of rice a day for three months or ninety days. This summer, however, the ration is only good for 15 days.

Like in the last school year, some 14 districts were also given the rice allocation, the figure though has lessened. While in school year 2006-2007, the recipients numbered 7, 680; there are less beneficiaries this summer where only some 7,141 Grade one pupils will benefit from the one kilo rice ration.

The Food for School Program is a priority program of PGMA and has resulted to a better attendance and better nutrition for the schoolers said Mr. Rolando Vieja of the Tarangnan District.

Still to receive rice rations are the municipalities of Motiong with 761 pupils; San Jorge with 644 pupils; Zumarraga with some 694 kids; San Sebastian with 295 Grade one kids; Pinabacdao with 657 beneficiaries, Talalora with 296 children; Almagro with 481 kids, Tagapul-an 362 children, Sto. Nino with some 526 kids and Pagsanghan with 281 children.