Poe to candidates: Support program vs malnutrition

Sen. Grace L. Poe —Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — Policies addressing malnutrition in the country should be among the front and center issues in the May 12 midterm elections, Sen. Grace Poe said on Monday as she urged those vying for elective posts to support the institutionalization of feeding programs for children.

“We hope we elect officials who believe that the economic future of our country hinges on our children,” Poe said in a statement.

The chair of the Senate committee on finance said Congress had allocated P11.7 billion this year to finance the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) of the Department of Education.

Poe said the allotment was P65.7 million higher than last year’s budget for SBFP, an initiative aimed at providing nutritious food to grade school students.

“We’re not starting from zero,” she noted. “The programs and the budget for child nutrition are in place, but we need champions for this advocacy to ensure its continuity.” —Marlon Ramos