SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING. Preschoolers from an unidentified child development center (CDC) in Central Visayas share a hot meal inside their classroom in this undated photo. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 (Central Visayas) Director Shalaine Marie Lucero said Thursday (May 23, 2024) that the Supplementary Feeding Program has benefitted about 150,637 preschoolers from 3,895 CDCs and 336 supervised neighborhood play centers across the region. (Photo courtesy of DSWD-7)
CEBU CITY – About 150,637 preschoolers in Central Visayas have benefited from the ongoing Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
These children are enrolled in 3,895 child development centers or day care centers and 336 supervised neighborhood play centers across the region, Shalaine Marie Lucero, DSWD 7 (Central Visayas) director, said Thursday.
She said the kids are served hot meals and milk to supplement the three-meal-a-day food consumption, covering 14 cycles during Academic Year 2024-2025.
Lucero said feeding the children helps address the incidence of malnutrition among preschoolers.
She said the activity encourages parents to look forward to sending their children to day care centers while learning and nourishing them at the same time.
“Addressing hunger and malnutrition remains the priority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration,” Lucero said.
DSWD aims to increase the nutritional status of the beneficiaries by giving them a wide variety of nutritious and healthy meal options, the agency’s program focal person Ma. Romilene C. Padilla said. (PNA)
