CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office in Northern Mindanao commenced, on July 11, the delivery of food supplies to the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, and Lanao del Norte as part of the 2025 implementation of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP)

The deliveries mark the start of the 120-day feeding program in Child Development Centers (CDCs) and Supervised Neighborhood Plays (SNPs). Each center received raw food items based on the standard menu developed during the 2024 regional planning, which considered local food preferences and the availability of commodities.

This year’s implementation includes weekend feeding through alternative meals—complementary food packs designed for children’s consumption on Saturdays and Sundays. This aims to maintain consistent food intake beyond the regular weekday schedule.

The alternative meals were developed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute under the Department of Science and Technology, which is responsible for creating food products that address nutrition and food security issues.

Feeding activities have already started in CDCs and SNPs that have received their food allocations. The program aims to reduce the number of undernourished children in the region by the end of the feeding cycle.

Deliveries are scheduled every two weeks. Misamis Occidental will soon receive its allocation, officially beginning its participation in the 2025 cycle.

“Para sa akong anak nga malnourished, naay dakong kakulangon sa kahimsog, tungod sa SFP, katong sa feeding program, dako kaayo ko’g pasalamat kay na-improve iyahang timbang ug iyahang height… dako gyud siyag kausaban,” says Evangeline Lerasan, a parent-beneficiary of SFP.

(For my child who was malnourished and had serious health deficiencies, I am very thankful for the SFP, the feeding program, because it helped improve his weight and height… he has really changed a lot.)

The SFP provides additional food to children enrolled in CDCs and SNPs, supplementing their regular meals. It is designed to meet one-third of the recommended daily energy and nutrient intake using locally available food. The program also includes nutrition education sessions for children, parents, and caregivers.

(DSWD Northern Mindanao/PIA-10)