SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA)— The Department of Education (DepEd) is expanding its School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) in La Union to address malnutrition and improve the health and academic performance of undernourished students.
Launched to support undernourished learners in public schools, the SBFP provides nutritious meals while promoting healthy eating habits and hygiene.
The program primarily targets students suffering from severe malnutrition, with additional beneficiaries including indigenous groups, indigent families, and severely stunted children.
Currently, 11,137 students in La Union are enrolled in the program, with plans to expand its coverage to 17,139 beneficiaries in the next school year.
The School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) for SY 2024-2025 will run for 160 feeding days, with an additional 15 days allocated for the National Learning Camp, totaling 175 days.
Impact on students’ health and wellness
DepEd – Schools Division of La Union, Nurse II Arelie C. Jacildo emphasized that the program has improved school attendance and student performance.
“The School-Based Feeding Program of DepEd aims to combat malnutrition and has shown positive effects on the children’s well-being,” she said.
The program follows a menu cycle approved by the DepEd central office, ensuring that meals meet at least one-third of a child’s daily caloric needs.
The menu includes nutrient-rich food items such as Nutribun, Nutri Cookies, Nutri Crackers, and iron-fortified rice (IFR).
Additionally, hot meals are prepared in schools through a partnership with the Jollibee Foundation, ensuring students receive freshly cooked, balanced meals.
Bauang North Central School Principal Fortunata Magna E. Pastor highlighted the program’s impact on students’ overall health.
“We have seen a significant improvement in the weight of our learners. This feeding program plays a crucial role in addressing malnutrition, and we appreciate the efforts of DepEd in sustaining this initiative,” Pastor said.
A parent, Anna Marie Torefranca, also shared how the program changed her child’s eating habits.
“Before, my child was underweight and did not eat well. After receiving meals from DepEd’s feeding program, he developed healthier eating habits and now enjoys milk, biscuits, and other nutritious food,” she shared.
Improvements in nutritional status
The School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) has significantly improved the nutritional health of its beneficiaries.
- Before the program: 22 percent of learners were classified as severely wasted (severely undernourished), while 78 percent were wasted (underweight).
- After the program: The percentage of severely wasted learners dropped to 7.4 percent, a 66 percent decrease, while wasted learners were reduced to 39.3 percent, a nearly 50 percent improvement. Additionally, 53.3 percent of participants (4,724 learners) achieved a normal nutritional status.
This means that over half of previously malnourished children have reached a healthier weight and overall better nutritional condition.
Out of 8,859 total beneficiaries, more than half (4,724 learners) now fall within the normal nutritional range after completing the feeding program.
- Cases of severe malnutrition (severely wasted) dropped by nearly two-thirds.
- The number of underweight children (wasted) was reduced by almost half, showing a clear improvement in their weight and health.
These figures highlight where malnutrition was most prevalent and demonstrate how the program has helped improve children’s health across different areas.
Sustainability efforts
Despite its success, the SBFP faces challenges such as weather disruptions and financial constraints.
To address potential delays in food distribution due to extreme weather, DepEd allows parents to collect meals from schools on behalf of their children.
DepEd has also strengthened sustainability measures through the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP), where schools grow their own fresh produce to supplement feeding initiatives. This not only enhances meal quality but also fosters environmental awareness and provides students with practical agricultural skills.
To ensure consistent funding, DepEd allocates resources in advance and collaborates with local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and private sector partners.
Organizations such as the SIFCare Foundation and the Philippine Red Cross contribute through supplementary feeding programs and activities like handwashing and toothbrushing campaigns.
Strengthened partnership and future expansion
With the planned expansion of the program, DepEd is strengthening partnerships with nutrition councils, LGUs, and private organizations to ensure its sustainability and effectiveness.
The department is also working to integrate the program into the broader nutrition technical working group initiatives of various government agencies.
DepEd officials remain committed to enhancing the program to reach more students and further reduce malnutrition rates across the region. (CCMT/AIHR, PIA Region 1)
