Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD FO CAR) is set to release around ₱ 68,196,600.00 worth of assistance that will benefit around 37,887 children currently enrolled in various child development centers in the Region.
The supplementary Feeding Program of the agency continues to provide hot meals to children in the 77 local government units in Cordillera
“As of 14 September 2020, we have already released the funds to Boliney and San Juan in Abra. For the coming weeks, more municipalities are expected to receive the funds and start conducting the house to house distribution of hot meals and other goods,” DSWD FO CAR OIC- Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.
Hot meals are food that contain the nutritional requirements of children. These meals are usually prepared by volunteer parents following the menu prepared by the local social welfare and development offices and approved by nutrition experts. Aside from hot meals, nutrient-dense food such as NutriPaks, Nutritbun and milk, alternative healthy and heavy snack.
During the 9th cycle (2019-2020), the Supplementary Feeding Program was able to serve 41,317 children.
“From June 2019 to March 2020, children have shown a positive response on the feeding program. After 120 feeding days, 2,415 children have improved weight category of which 449 severely underweight and 1,966 underweight children were rehabilitated”, Supplementary Feeding Program Focal and Nutritionist- Dietitian Eleonor Bugallin-Ayan said.
She added that undernutrition is a multi-factorial public health concern and supplementary feeding is just one way of decreasing such thus various things should also be considered to increase one’s nutritional status.
“It is during this time, when parents are struggling finding enough money to buy their needs that we have to push further to deliver our programs and services for the children. It may just be an additional meal for a day, but this may help our little ones develop a healthier body and sounder mind.” Ayan explained.
“We are grateful to our partners, especially the parents and our local government units for providing the necessary assistance for us to do this. They have unselfishly provided their time and effort to help us from the delivery of goods to house to house distribution. May we continue this partnership for our children”, Director Quintilla said. (Joe Manzano)