By Restituto Cayubit
TACLOBAN CITY - The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers (MSWDOs) in Eastern Visayas are appealing to the national government to increase the allocation for the supplemental feeding program (SFP).
MSWDOs interviewed by Manila Bulletin said the present budget, adopted in 2016, of P15 per child per meal has become unrealistic because prices of commodities have gone up.
Irmina O. Delorino, an MSWDO from Catarman, Northern Samar, said: “We are appealing for at least P20 budget or an increase of P5 per child per meal considering with the current prices of commodities.”
The same sentiment was echoed by Wilda Contado, MSWDO from Balangkayan, Eastern Samar. “We are requesting for the government to consider our plea considering that supplementary feeding program helps minimize the malnutrition problem of our town,” she said.
Mesalina L. Dulfo, MSWDO from Lavezares, Northern Samar, said parents have to contribute vegetables, or spices and other food or cooking additives because the meal budget is too meager.