1.8M children to benefit from DSWD's supplementary feeding program for SY 2023-2024
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will begin implementing the 13th feeding cycle for the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) in the second week of September, which is expected to boost the nutritional needs of approximately 1.8 million children.
Children enrolled in Child Development Centers (CDCs) and Supervised Neighborhood Plays (SNPs) run by local government units will receive food in addition to their regular meals through SFP.
The program is also a component of the DSWD’s contribution to the government’s Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Program, and is in accordance with Republic Act No. 11037, also known as the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act.”
Undernourished daycare children ages three to five will receive at least one fortified meal for a duration of not less than 120 days during the 13th feeding cycle, which will span the school year (SY) 2023 to 2024.
In the program's 12th cycle, which began in August 2022, 1,933,671 children nationwide received hot meals.
During the same cycle, 90,262 children enrolled in CDCs and SNPs received milk.
“Rest assured that the DSWD will continue to provide technical assistance to our local government counterparts for the efficient implementation of the SFP,” DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications and spokesperson Romel Lopez said.
“Aside from LGUs, parents and caregivers are also enjoined to participate in the conduct of the SFP to increase their knowledge on nutrition and health education by participating in the preparation of meals sourced from local ingredients and monitoring of the weight of the children,” he said.