Palace’s P1-B food rations to benefit 382,000 students

Resembling alms-giving, Malacañang will start addressing the country’s problem on hunger by rationing food to grade one pupils and preschoolers of public schools in Metro Manila and 10 provinces where hunger is widespread. The rations of rice, noodles and milk worth P1 billion will be implemented by the Anti-Hunger Task Force. The rationing will last for two-and-a-half months and will benefit some 382,000 students. A statement from the National Nutrition Council said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the release of P1.277 billion from the 2006 supplemental budget for the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement the Food for School Program. The DepEd was instructed to speed up the implementation of the distribution of a kilo of iron-fortified rice, hot meals, and milk to grade one and preschoolers in public schools in Metro Manila and in 10 “Priority One" provinces from March 19 to May 31. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III who heads the task force said Metro Manila was also selected because the President was concerned over the 4 percent increase in hunger incidence in the metropolis. Because school is out, DepEd will coordinate with Church-based organizations, principals and Parents and Teachers Community Associations to distribute the food to the intended beneficiaries. The Priority One Provinces, where hunger is considered prevalent are: Zamboanga del Norte, Masbate, Maguindanao, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Mt.Province, Lanao del Norte, Camarines Norte, Sarangani, and Zamboanga Sibugay. The Food for School program hopes to give to 293,363 grade one and preschool kids in Metro Manila P434.177 million worth of rice and P336.487 million worth of milk and noodles or a total of P770.665 million It also seeks to give to 89,046 kids in the 10 "Priority One" provinces P131.788 million worth of rice and P102.136 million worth of milk and noodles or a total of P233.924 million. For both Metro Manila and the 10 provinces, government seeks to give 382,409 children with P565.965 million worth of rice and P438.623 million worth of milk and noodles or a total of P1.004 billion. The Department of Social Welfare and Development will also immediately start feeding operations in day care centers in Metro Manila and the priority provinces using P269 million from the 2006 supplemental budget released by the budget department last February 22. Rice will be distributed to those in Grades 1 to 6, at one school child per family, in Metro Manila and in the 10 "Priority One" provinces beginning in June. Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the rice that would be distributed to the schoolchildren will not be imported. Arroyo also ordered the use of the Coconut Industry Investment Fund to bring down the hunger in coconut-producing areas where the hunger incidence rate is high. The Department of Agriculture (DA) was directed to speed up the implementation of programs on rice production, livestock, fishery, and backyard vegetable gardens and to immediately open additional eight barangay food terminals to serve 200,000-250,000 poor families in depressed areas in Metro Manila by April 2007. The DA, the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Department of Public Works and Highways were ordered to ensure that contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads and irrigation and road maintenance are signed before the election ban on constructions. Meanwhile, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority was ordered to increase its scholars. The Commission on Higher Education was told to complete the accreditation for vocational courses on welding, butchering and call center operations. Duque said after four months, the task force will assess the results of the anti-hunger program and look at the findings of the next Social Weather Stations survey on hunger. -GMANews.TV