DepEd: 1.7 M students undernourished

The guidelines for the implementation of the schoolbased feeding program this year showed that over 532,000 students are classified as severely wasted, while another 1.25 million students are classified as wasted.

The number of undernourished students is based on the baseline nutritional assessment conducted last year.

Data showed that Region 4-A has the highest number of undernourished students with 267,215 followed by Region 6 with 173,492, Metro Manila with 169,872, Region 5 with 161,534 and Region 3 with 185,609.

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has the lowest number of undernourished students with 6,736, followed by Region 13 with 40,824; Region 2 with 44,932; Region 9 with 72,784 and Region 10 with 73,702.

To address the perennial undernourishment, the DepEd allocated P3.8 billion for the implementation of the schoolbased feeding program this year.

Started in 2010, the program aims to improve classroom attendance and the nutritional status of Filipino students by the end of at least 120 feeding days.

It also seeks to promote health and nutrition information among target beneficiaries and encourage schools to develop backyard vegetable gardening to augment the nutrition and poverty-reduction initiatives of the government.

The feeding program in schools will begin not later than July 31, according to the guidelines.

The DepEd also allocated over P995 million for the inclusion of kindergarten students in priority areas.

These include select division offices in Regions 2, 3, 4-B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, Caraga, CAR and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Priority areas are those identified in the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition to address stunting among the Filipino youth.