SCHOOL-BASED FEEDING PROGRAM: A MITIGATING INITIATIVE

GEMMA M. IBAY

Poverty is still on of the main reasons resulting to the poor nourishment of children. The common reasons of the pupils’ absences are still related to poverty like cannot afford to buy projects, they are helping their parents on the market and they work in the farm with their father.

The poor nourishment of the pupils is also a result of poverty. With the financial shortage at home, the pupils are only afforded with minimal and less nutritious, meals, thus resulting to their poor level of nutrition. This could be the reason why there are still an alarming number of pupils who are severely wasted or underweight.

The school-based feeding program is a national program initiative to help schools solve the problems related to the poor nutrition of pupils. Each pupil-recipient is given Php 18.00 per meal for 120 days continuous feeding and all the preparations are handled by the school. Meals are served either during the recess or lunch break of the pupils.

The continuous feeding has improved the nutritional status of the pupils from severely wasted to normal level as proven by the reports after the feeding days.

Undisputedly, the school-base feeding program is the right support for schools to solve problems among pupils related to the poor nutrition. — oOo—

The author is Teacher III at San Jose Elementary School, San Jose, Macabebe, Pampanga