LAGUNA, 10 October – During the 12th Cluster meeting organized by the NNC Calabarzon last October 7, various regional line partner agencies shared their response and plans during the pandemic. Worth noting, and which called the attention of the Cluster was the upcoming School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) of DepEd-Calabarzon.
In the Cluster meeting, Nutritionist-Dietitian II of DepEd, Mr. Neil B. Evangelista, shared that the SBFP was redesigned to cope with nutrition demands resulting from the impact of the government’s general guidelines during the pandemic. He carefully explained that to implement the program (and in adhering to the minimum health standards set by the Inter-Agency Task Force and Department of Health), schools may choose whether food supplies or Nutritious Food Packs (NFPs) will be picked up or delivered to the home of learners.
Mr. Evangelista clarified that the NFPs may be picked-up by parents once or twice a week on designated days and time. This procedure will be applied for the learners under modular learning (wherein self-learning modules or SLMs are provided in print or digital format/electronic copy).
To assist parents who have limited sources of income, the schools may also seek the help of jeepney drivers to distribute the food supplies to the homes of learners, particularly those under online synchronous classes. Schools may also arrange with LGUs/Barangays for the distribution of the NFPs. DepEd-Calabarzon also sought the assistance of NNC Calabarzon for the possibility of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) helping out in the distribution of NFPs.
In the process of the distributions, safety protocols have to be followed by the human resources who will distribute the NFPs. It will include the use of personal protective equipments (PPEs) such as masks, gloves, face shields and alcohol for
The meeting also highlighted the provision of alternating ration of fortified or enriched pastries and bread (Enhanced Nutribun) and fruits in season together with the delivery or pick up of NFPs. To be included too are the weekly ration of pasteurized milk from local dairy farmers.
The target beneficiaries are kindergarten children, including the undernourished learners from the previous school year (S.Y. 2019-2020). The Grade 6 learners who were promoted to Grade 7 will no longer be included in the feeding program.
The total budget per child will cost around P38.00. That is, P18.00 for the milk and P20.00 for the nutritious snacks. The target implementation will be in the last quarter of 2020 up to 2021.
It was also mentioned by Mr. Evangelista that the DepEd Calabarzon is reminding the parents that the NFPs must be consumed by the children included in the feeding program. This is stated in the “Consent Form” that will be signed by the parents and caregivers.
Regularly, the Regional Nutrition Cluster (RNC) Calabarzon, an inter-agency committee composed of regional member agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs), conducts / convenes a meeting with the inter-agency body to discuss activities that will promote good nutrition and protect the nutritionally-vulnerable individuals in Calabarzon. Included in the meeting are the issues, concerns and necessary actions to alleviate such.
Even though the pandemic has restricted the implementation of the regular government programs, the government is still on the move to give the utmost services intended for the beneficiaries and its people. However, the people’s cooperation and support is also vital to the success of the program.
By: Zarah Clarice T. Megino, RND