Over 1.8 M students undernourished – DepEd

MANILA, Philippines - More than 1.8 million elementary students nationwide are undernourished, according to statistics released by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Education Secretary Armin Luistro has given the green light for the release of over P1.4 billion for the implementation of the second tranche of the school-based feeding program (SBFP) for the benefit of over one million undernourished students across the country.

In a department order, Luistro said 544,931 severely wasted and 1,312,935 wasted elementary students are in public schools nationwide.

Records show that the government’s feeding program has a total budget allocation of over P2.26 billion for the current school year.

SBPF, which is implemented in partnership with the Health and Nutrition Center, seeks to address undernutrition and short-term hunger among public school children.

At least 80 percent of the beneficiaries are to be rehabilitated to normal nutritional status at the end of 120 feeding days, DepEd said.

“Secondarily, it aims to increase classroom attendance from 85 to 100 percent and to improve the school children’s health and nutrition values and behavior,” DepEd said.

DepEd initiated the feeding program in 2010 to address the problem of undernutrition and hunger among public school students.

Pilot implementation in the two succeeding years showed positive results in terms of converting the student beneficiaries into normal nutritional status at the end of the 120 feeding days.

“Furthermore, the children were observed to have better class participation and developed good health habits such as washing of hands and good grooming,” DepEd said.

Those not covered by the program will be covered by feeding programs implemented by DepEd-recognized partners and stakeholders.