Press Release
May 26, 2010

ANGARA BATS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN NUTRITION PROGRAM

Senator Edgardo J. Angara renews his call to institutionalize the "Child Nutrition Act of the Philippines" to address the malnourishment problem among Filipino children, tapping the country's public school network as primary target for implementation.

"The most effective means to target childhood malnutrition is through the public school network. Although there are current school-feeding programs administered by the Dept. of Education (DepEd) they heavily rely on allocations from budgets of senators and congressmen, or through donations from private individuals and corporations," said Angara, former president of the University of the Philippines.

He added, "With the close link of proper nutrition and learning and development among children, a school feeding and other nutrition programs will be put in place to ensure the health and well-being of our children; as well as to encourage domestic consumption of our agricultural products to more effectively meet our nutritional needs," Angara asserts.

Senate Bill 237 which Angara filed will jointly be administered by the Department of Agriculture (DA), DepEd, Dept. Of Health (DOH) and the National Nutrition Council to initiate, maintain and expand a system of distribution of milk and fortified snack foods to public elementary schools five times every week; and vitamins and user-friendly nutrition information and educational materials.

Through this Act, a tax deductible incentive will also be given to private companies donating milk, juices, food and others to the School Feeding Program throughout the public elementary school network.

Along with this nourishment drive, a health and dental examination and deworming of children will be done during the meeting-orientation of parents, to be conducted by their rural health units. Children diagnosed with ailments will be given proper treatment or referred to hospitals.

Angara stresses, "There is a very urgent need to immediately provide for a legislated nutrition program targeting public elementary schools throughout the country. This is the only way we can improve the lives of our children and eventually enable them to learn more, develop better and succeed in their studies and for their futures."

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