DSWD sets aside P79 million for rice program at day cares

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allocated P79 million for a rice program for Day Care children as well as increase the number of “Tindahan Natin” in Central Visayas.

In yesterday’s graduation ceremony of minor offenders at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth in Argao, DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral said the agency allocated P750 million for the Food for School Program as part of the government’s hunger mitigation measures.

The Food for School Program, Cabral said, aims to augment families of day care children in identified depressed areas by giving them one kilo each day for the entire 120 school days.

If not through a kilo of rice, Cabral said, supplementary feeding is also being undertaken.

Here in Central Visayas, DSWD 7 regional director Teodulo Romo said, around 88,000 day care children in 98 municipalities will benefit from the program.

Initially, the agency allocated P79 million which is good only for 42 days.

The Department of Education (DepEd) is also implementing their own Food for School Program, this time covering school children in grades 1 to 6.

On the other hand, there will be additional Tindahan Natins to be established this year, which will act as selling outlets of rice from the National Food Authority.

Majority of the outlets will be in Cebu, Romo said.

The Tindahan Natins, aside from selling rice, will also sell cheap food products such as noodles and canned goods.

There are already more than 500 Tindahan Natins nationwide and more than 500 in Region VII which are already operational. — Ferliza C. Contratista/NLQ