National feeding program law signed

AT LEAST another positive program is going to be implemented and is expected to help address a pressing concern – malnutrition and undernutrition – of yet another vulnerable group of our society, our children, the hope of our father land, our legacy, our next generation.

Republic Act 11037, or the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act,” has already been signed and made into law. This is to outline the government’s National Feeding Program to address the undernutrition and fight hunger among Filipino children.

The components include a supplemental feeding program for daycare children aged 3-5 years who will be provided with at least fortified meal for a period of not less than 120 days a year. There will also be a school- based component for undernourished children from kindergarten to grade six for same feeding period.

The first component is going to be coordinated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the second one by the Department of Education. The milk feeding program for both components will be coordinated by the National Government Agencies ( NGAs) with the Department of Agriculture, the National Diary Authority, the Philippine Carabao Center, and the Cooperative Development Authority.

The law also mandates the local government units to provide counterpart resources for the implementation and to encourage private sectors and/or corporations to help government, donors are exempted of tax.

Food is our means to live. As with the good news of the Lord that feeds the soul, we need food to survive. Food must be a basic governmental provision, but it should also be a social responsibility. We should also be responsible for one another’s food, health and survival. As the old saying goes, “No man is an island.”

Our God greatly commands, “Love one another as you love yourself.” (

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