BUTUAN CITY – The regional social welfare and development office in Caraga has implemented the supplementary feeding program (SFP).  Before the implementation, however, the field office held a series of conferences attended by a total of 297 participants composed of Provincial/City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers, Day Care Parents Group federation president, City/Municipal Auditors and Accountants and DSWD staff.

Being the key players and stakeholders of the program, the participants were oriented on their duties and responsibilities along SFP implementation. The series of orientations were done by cluster namely: Agusan del Norte; Agusan del Sur; Surigao del Sur; Surigao del Norte Mainland and Dinagat Islands and Siargao Island.

The SFP is defined as the provision of food in addition to the regular meals to day care children as DSWD’s contribution to ECCD program of the government.  This is in the form of hot meals to be served during break/snack time in the morning or afternoon session. The feeding program will run for 120 days to be done 5 times a week.

Ms. Hazel N. Vete, program’s focal person explained that the program aims to provide augmentation support for feeding program for children in LGU-managed day care centers, mitigate Hunger,  improve, and sustain nutritional status, enhance knowledge, attitude & skills of parents & care givers, manage child’s health and nutritional problems.

According to Ms. Vete, the government has targeted 73 LGUs and1,310 Barangays. In Caraga region, the program is implemented in 1,904 day care centers with a total of 69, 949 children. These 3-4 years old children and those 5-year old children not catered in the DepEd preschool.

Before feeding can be done, children will undergo weighing and deworming.  Aside from hot meals, children will also be given micro-nutrients supplementation.  Parent effectiveness and home care sessions will also be conducted to the parents of day care children.

Mr. Pio V. Japitana also explained to the participants the financial aspect of the project to include fund allocation, fund flow, procurement of goods, requirements for the release of funds.

A child is allocated P 12.50/day – P 2.50 for the rice and P 10.00 for the viand. The total budget for Caraga is P 104, 923, 500.00. # # # (Social Marketing Unit)