Tap dairy agency in milk feeding program, DepEd urged

MANILA, Philippines — A group of dairy producers has asked the Department of Education to include the National Dairy Authority (NDA) in the implementation of DepEd’s P2-billion milk feeding program.

In a letter to Education Secretary Sonny Angara, National Federation of Dairy Farmers and Stakeholders’ Association (Dairy NatFed) president Danilo Fausto said tapping the NDA would make the DepEd’s program more efficient. He said the implementation of the program should be returned to the NDA.

“Delegating the program to the NDA will relieve DepEd staff and public school teachers of administrative duties and allow them to concentrate on their teaching mandate,” Fausto said.

He said members of the Dairy NatFed met with Angara on Sept. 4 and discussed the group’s proposal of allowing the NDA and the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) to undertake the milk feeding program.

Fausto said Angara did not object to the proposal as long as the arrangement complies with existing laws.

“We were delighted to know that you interpose no objection to our request as long as it will be allowed under existing laws since this will relieve DepEd of administrative duties and allow it to concentrate on its mandate of educating and teaching our children,” Fausto said in the letter.

Republic Act 11037, or the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, mandates concerned government agencies to cooperate with the Department of Agriculture, NDA, PCC and Cooperative Development Authority for the incorporation of fresh milk and fresh milk-based products in fortified meals and cycle menu, pursuant to RA 8172 or the Philippine Fortification Act of 2000.

“It is very clear under the law that the NDA has the mandate to implement the milk feeding program of the government. The old modality of having the NDA and the PCC implementing the feeding prgram created an unwanted competition between cooperative farmers being managed by these agencies,” Fausto said.

He said the DepEd has P2 billion in funding this year for the milk feeding component of its school-based program.