Partylist reps push for mandatory nutrition program in schools

Partylist lawmakers said the government should implement a mandatory child nutrition program in all public elementary schools and day care centers nationwide instead of a conditional cash transfer (CCT) program. Bayan Muna Reps. Teddy Casiño and Neri Colmenares said the nutrition program stated in the House Bill (HB) 2308, the “Child Nutrition Law of 2010," they filed in September, is a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to poverty. Their co-authors in the bill now pending before the Committee on the Welfare of Children are Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla and Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop. "If our schools provide good education and nutrition at the same time, you won't have to bribe parents with cash dole outs to send their kids to school," said Casiño. They said HB 2308 is a long-term program to improve child attendance in day care centers and schools by ensuring the health and nutrition of young children throughout the early childhood years. The proposed bill has a system for early identification, prevention, and intervention for developmental disorders, and disabilities during the early childhood years. The CCT, on the other hand, just doles out cash to parents to send their kids to school, Casiño said. “We can actually do away with the CCT program and realign its P21 billion to health and education services like this mandatory child nutrition program," he said. Under the bill, the mandatory nutrition program will source its funds from the following: