For a mother, there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing her child growing strong and healthy. For Mrs. Valen Soriano from Sto. Niño, Cagayan, being part of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 02 is making her dream for her child come true.
“I used to worry because my child had difficulty drinking water and eating. She would often feel weak and get sick. But after three months in this program, there was a huge change – now she eats well and has gained weight,” Soriano said.
Soriano’s story is just one example of the success of the SFP in the region, which has assisted 89,305 daycare pupils for the academic year 2024-2025.
DSWD Regional Director Lucia Suyu-Alan said that the program aims to combat malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies that are major challenges for children aged two to five.
Through the SFP, the beneficiary children receive hot meals and milk as an added source of nutrition, which are served with the help of their parents alongside their regular meals.
At the same time, in supporting the health of the children, local governments are urged to use locally produced products to support farmers in the region.
For the record, according to SFP Head Edwardson K. Tad-o, 89,305 children from 93 local government units (LGUs) with 2,798 Child Development Centers (CDCs) across the region were served in 2024.
According to RD Alan, the success of the program highlights its positive impact on child nutrition.
“This number of children served is an indication that many children are receiving the proper nutrition they need every day. In this way, parents no longer have to worry about providing food for their children,” Alan said.
Meanwhile, Alan also emphasized that the SFP implementation for Fiscal Year 2025 will be strictly adhered to and monitored in targeting proper nutrition against micronutrient deficiency among children. (OTB/MFJ/PIA Region 2)
