Photo courtesy of World Food Programme.
COTABATO CITY (PIA) –The Bangsamoro government has launched a Home-Grown School Feeding project that targets approximately 10,000 elementary learners, marking its renewed commitment to fight malnutrition in the region.
The Bangsamoro Food Security Task Force (BFSTF), in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and other key offices of the regional government, leads the project.
“This program is designed to provide nutritious meals to our schoolchildren to ensure they have the energy and focus required to succeed in their studies,” said Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE).
Eight municipalities have been targeted for the project’s pilot testing, including Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Matanog, Sultan Mastura, Upi, and South Upi.
Iqbal said the project aims to provide nutritious food to around 10,000 learners every school day.
“This program embodies the essence of collaboration and coordinated action, representing an interrelationship between education and nutrition, health, agriculture, and other factors,” he pointed out.
Moreover, Iqbal said that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) is expected to work with local farmers for the feeding program to demonstrate the essence of collaboration and coordinated action among various sectors in the fight against malnutrition.
“The MAFAR will provide seeds and gardening tools to farmers. The Ministry of Health will provide deworming tablets to boost the children’s immune system and ensure they get vital nutrients,” he said.
Meanwhile, WFP Deputy Country Director Dipayan Bhattacharyya assured the region of technical assistance through evidence-based advocacy to enhance policies and project design for the successful implementation of the project in the next five years.
“Investing in the education, health, and nutrition of the younger generation is critical to improving prospects for economic growth and development in BARMM,” Bhattacharyya said. (LTB-PIA, Cotabato City)