FEEDING PROGRAM: A HISTORY

alnutrition affects a significant number of Filipino children, making them

susceptible to disease and infection. The 2003 National Nutrition survey
showed that 2.9 million primary school-age children were underweight, while
3.41 million were growth-stunted. The prevalence of anemia among children
has also escalated in the last ten years, along with vitamin A deficiency.

But the greater problem of malnutrition, especially among children, is that it

ultimately leads to stunted mental and physical growth, poor comprehension
and lower performance in school.

In 2003, Senator Edgardo J. Angara launched a School Feeding Program (SFP)

in public elementary schools around the country, especially in depressed
communities. It is conducted on a 120-day cycle, where milk, eggs and
noodles are distributed to schoolchildren from grade levels 1, 2 and 3. These
children, aged 7-9, are at their most important mental and physical
development stage.

To date, over 24,000 pupils from the NCR and provincial schools in Abra,
Aurora , Benguet, Ilocos Norte and Iloilo have benefited from this SFP
program. The program saw great improvements in attendance, learning
capabilities, academic performance, weight, height, overall nutritional status,
as well as the reduction of drop-out rates among beneficiaries. It is surprising
how just a little investment, can make a big difference.
 THE FEEDING PROGRAM

W ithin the framework of our curriculum, we were required to do the

so-called feeding program.

The making started with a meeting led by the class president. The meeting
assigned the officers to lead the respective committees: food,
documentation, physical, technical and arts committees. The agenda also
tackled the specific amount of fund to be gathered from each and every BSN
IIIA.

And so the day broke on April 22, in the year of the Lord, we were getting
ready, funds were in hand of the treasurer and distributed to the members of
the food and arts committees; the certificates, registration form and the
program were emphasized; the setting was being ready at Brgy. Tinamnan,
Lucban, Quezon; the children were called from their houses and everything
else has to be set.

The officers-in-charge of the food came from the marketplace and as the
ingredients came rushing in, the cooks were, too. They cooked merienda for
the chikitings and they were as follows:
the bihon also known as the pretend sotanghon
the ever delicious egg sandwich
and the quenching drink, “Refresh”
The bihon was made possible by the help of Mr. Percival Verano and other
clinical instructors and our nutrition instructor, Mr. Melvin Cadao. They also
made the cooking a lot more fun and untiring.

We enjoyed the “cook-in”.

After preparing the merienda, we headed off to the barangay health center
where the kids were already sat, the program was taking place and a whole
lot of unfamiliarity circulated the ambiance. I mean, this was our first feeding
program together.

Everything was in "All work paid out when we motion. The

children were realized that for every weighed and had
their heights hardships and sweats we have listed. The
given, there are always
program was in tim led by the
applauses and a pleasure from
bubbly masters of ceremony. There
the little hand, the little
was a gained learning from the
tummies…of little people.”
lecturer who was the vice president
of the class. There was a role-play
that made the kids entertained and at the same time aware of the
importance of nutrition. There was also an intermission number from a very
good singer in the batch. There were games—the ever playing games.

Satisfaction reflected on the barangay officers’ faces as they watched the

youngsters cooperated with us. Contentment filled our hearts as we came
upon feeding the children with our goods—our nutritious goods.

The day ended with the giving of certificates of appreciation and

participation for the barangay. They said, it was the first time they received a
certificate. And yes, we were very happy to precede this kind of action.
A Feeding Program Documentation
...
By: BSN IIIA