BAGUIO CITY— The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has recorded 61.46% rehabilitation among underweight children enrolled in Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) or Day Care Centers in the Cordillera region after six months of feeding under the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP).
Around 42,696 day care children were weighed in the beginning of the feeding cycle in 2015. Of these children, 3,780 were measured to be underweight. After six months of feeding, out of the 41,871 day care children weighed, the number of underweight children decreased to 1,457. Children with normal weights have also increased from 38,705 to 40,250.
“We, in the Department, are pleased to see an improvement in the nutritional status of our day care children. These developments can be attributed to the concerted effort of our partners and stakeholders,” DSWD OIC-Regional Director Janet P. Armas shared.
SFP Focal Person Eleonor Bugalin said they had observed some practices of their partners that helped in the implementation of the Program.
One practice is the conduct of Parent Effectiveness Sessions initiated by the local government of La Trinidad, Benguet. Day Care parents and guardians were required to attend the Parents Effectiveness Sessions that focused on topics including children’s rights, proper childcare, nutrition, and family and child development. Those who were unable to attend the sessions were penalized with Php200 each. The amount collected was used to augment in providing the needs of the day care centers.
Aside from this strategy, Day Care Worker Miriam S. Botongen coordinated with the Philippine National Police Cordillera and other agencies. As a result, physical fitness activities, and annual medical and dental check-ups were conducted on Camp Dangwa Day Care children.
Other activities involving children conducted included the “Batang Munti, Kalingain, Kalusugan Pagyamanin” Project, tree planting activity which teaches children how to protect and preserve the environment, recycling of waste materials, and Gulayansa Day Care Center Project.
“We would like to commend our partners who give beyond what is expected of them. Their strategies are valuable inputs for our Department to further improve our service delivery. We hope that our partnership with them continue to flourish this year and we are optimistic that these will help our clients for an improved accessibility of our programs and services”, Armas shared.** Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva – DSWD-CAR
