SCHOOL-BASED FEEDING PROGRAM

Marilou I. Yambao

School feeding programs have been defined by the World Bank as “targeted social safety nets that provide both educational and health benefits to the most vulnerable children, thereby increasing enrollment rates, reducing absenteeism, and improving food security at the household level.”

To improve the children's health and nutrition values and behavior. According to the Health and Nutrition Center (HNC) of DepED, the primary goal of the program is the nutrition goal; improved class attendance and improved health and nutrition values and behavior are secondary goals.

Since 1997, the Department of Education (DepED) has implemented schoolbased feeding programs (SBFPs). The DepED's first SBFP, then called Breakfast Feeding Program (BFP), aimed to address short-term hunger.

Children's feeding programs' objectives to reduce child hunger, improve child nutrition, enhance school performance and provide socialization opportunities for children are valued affectively by all direct and indirect participants.

Feeding has a direct impact on the growth rate, production capacity and health status of the animal. Feeding is key for a profitable and sustainable farming. The cost of feeding has long been recognized as the major cost and the largest cash expense in animal production.

The School-based Feeding Program (SBFP) was implemented in the Philippines in 1997 . ... With respect to improved school presence, growth of vegetables, and observed positive health habits and behaviors, the SBFP might be evaluated as a "well managed program"

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The author is Teacher I at Concepcion Integrated School, San Simon District