To help Filipino learners increase their performance in school, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, Jan. 11, said that the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) has been adjusted to cover the entire school year.
In a Palace briefing, DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa said that there is a bigger budget allocation for the SBFP this year.
“For the school-based feeding program, mayroon po tayong 5.6 billion na budget for 2023. Naitaas na po natin iyong budget na iyan this year to 11.7 billion (For the school-based feeding program, we have a budget of 5.6 billion for 2023. We have increased that budget this year to 11.7 billion),” he explained.
“Dahil sa pagtaas ng pondo, kung dati ay nasa 120 days lang ang feeding natin, ngayon po ay masasakop na natin iyon buong taon (Due to the increase in funding, if before our feeding program covered only 120 days, now we can extend it to cover the entire year),” he added.
In a meeting with President Marcos, Poa sa that DepEd also presented its programs and initiatives related to the health and nutrition of students.
Poa said DepEd is also coordinating with other agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regarding the feeding program.
“May mga programa kasi sa gobyerno ngayon pagdating sa feeding at hindi naman po sila nag-o-overlap (There are government programs related to feeding, and they do not overlap),” Poa explained. “In fact, they complement each other, there’s continuity,” he added.
Poa mentioned that there are food stamps for families, especially during the first 1,000 days. There is also a supplementary feeding program funded by DSWD and is extended to daycare programs. Afterward, the focus shifts to basic education as the learners enter school.
“But, of course, the President wants us to still see kung ano pang (what other) enhancements ang magagawa natin dahil napakaimportante ng nutrition (we can do since nutrition is very important),” Poa said.