Davao City – Some 1,500 Muslim-children enrolled in various Madrasahs in the city will benefit from the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) for Sajahatra Bangsamoro implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
In coordination with the local government unit (LGU), the SFP will initially feed 550 children aged 5 to 12 years old in 11 Madrasahs, which are Muslim private schools with core emphasis on Islamic Studies and Arabic Literacy.
As soon as the DSWD receives the master list from the field workers, the second feeding round will cover 950 children to complete the 1,500 target.
For the initial feeding of 550 children, the Department has allotted P910,250 for food and dining and cooking utensils, including 6,600 kilograms of iron-fortified rice.
The SFP is a program which provides food to children daily in addition to their regular meals. It is an augmentation support to the feeding program of the LGU and it uses indigenous food and/or locally processed food equivalent to 1/3 of the Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intakes (RENIs).
The program aims to enhance knowledge, attitude, and practices of children, parents, and caregivers through intensified nutrition and health education. It also improves and sustains the nutritional status of the children beneficiaries.
According to DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, the SFP also contributes to peace efforts. “The program also concretizes the socio-economic peace initiative in partnership with the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).”
Communities endorsed by the MILF to DSWD through Task Force Bangsamoro Development (TFBD) are involved in this feeding program for Sajahatra Bangsamoro.
Parents manage the feeding program preparation of meal cycle using the available indigenous food supplies. Children beneficiaries are weighed at the start of the feeding and after the completion of 120 feeding days to determine improvement in their nutritional status.
As part of the SFP implementation, the participating parents are also mobilized to attend nine capability-building sessions on self, family, parenting, health and nutrition, love of country, and home and environment. ###
