CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga – – The 7th cycle supplemental feeding program has somehow improved the health and nutrition of children in this province, but much is still desired.
Out of the 5,780 who were weighed after the project implementation, 144 are still underweight, 11 are severely underweight and 46 overweight in the five municipalities that submited their report. As of May 11, 2018, 624 children were reported to be stunted.
The report presented to the Provincial Interagency Advisory Committee on Social Services show that this province will be spending a total of P14.7 million at the end of the 7th cycle supplementary feeding expected to be completed this year.
Except for Lubuagan and Tinglayan, the rest of the municipalities and this city completed their supplementary feeding program which started August last year. Latest completion report was that of Tanudan.
Tinglayan targets to complete its supplementary feeding in July with doubled allocation which means the municipality was alloted another P954,000.00 aside from the P900,000.00 regular budget. Tanudan was also granted additional fund of P648,000.00.Lubuagan will start implementing this school year 2018-2019.
The feeding program aims to improve and sustain the nutritional status of target children-beneficiaries and improve knowledge, attitude and practices of children, parents and caregivers through intensified nutrition and health education. It basically provides hot meals for 120 days to children enrolled in LGU-run Child Development Centers (formerly known as Day Care Centers) and Supervised Neighborhood Play.
The primary objective of supplementary feeding programs is to improve the nutritional status of the targeted undernourished individuals. There is a wide variety of foods given in supplementary feeding activities from single food items like milk, oat meal and juices to full lunch meals. **By Peter A. Balocnit
