Duterte signs national feeding program law

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law establishing a national feeding program for undernourished public school students in a bid to help curb hunger and undernutrition in the Philippines.

The chief executive approved Republic Act 11037 or the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act” last June 20.

The national feeding program will be institutionalized for undernourished children in public day care, kindergarten and elementary schools.

Under the law, the national government agencies concerned will provide micronutrient supplements, conduct health examinations, deworming and vaccination, among others, to program beneficiaries.

The law also orders creation of a National Nutrition Information System, which will harmonize all existing national and local nutrition databases from relevant government agencies.

Malacañang said the law will safeguard the children from the ill effects of undernourishment and enhance their learning capacities.

“We aim to combat hunger and undernutrition among the youngest members of our society for we consider it a sin for the government to be unable to spend billions worth of budget while around six million Filipino youths suffer from acute malnutrition,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Tuesday.

The bill passed the Senate in February 28. The House of Representatives passed its own version in June 2017.