Iloilo City Expands Feeding Program to Aid Learners

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City government is ramping up its daycare feeding program, recognizing the crucial link between early childhood nutrition and student comprehension.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said the city has committed additional local funds and tapped private sector support to supplement the national government’s nutrition programs and ensure all daycare centers are covered.

“If nutrition is lacking at the most important age of the child, the comprehension of the child is also affected until the adolescent stage,” Treñas said.

“There is data that shows many of our graduates from senior and junior high school are not able to comprehend what they are reading,” he added.

On May 26, the city government and Bombo Radyo Philippines, Inc. signed a Deed of Donation with Acceptance worth PHP1.964 million to boost the city’s nutrition efforts.

Signatories included Treñas, Bombo Radyo Philippines Foundation, Inc. Board of Trustees members Enrico Jacomille and Rogelio Forete Jr., and City Health Officer Dr. Mary Ann Poli-Diaz.

The donated funds will be used to purchase raw materials for producing the Rice-Mongo-Sesame Blend, a DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute-developed food supplement.

This donation follows a previous contribution from the foundation that helped establish production equipment at the Uswag Nutrition Center.

“It is not their obligation to help us, but for their corporate social responsibility, they saw that we need to help our youth since they are the future of this country,” Treñas said.

The Rice-Mongo-Sesame Blend is a ready-to-cook complementary food for children aged six months and older and will be distributed to an estimated 10,000 Ilonggo children.

With the donation secured, Treñas said the city is ready to launch the program, though he noted that additional funding will be necessary for sustainability.

He also announced the expansion of the city’s nutrition program, which includes enhanced nutribuns and an increase in the number of local bakers to meet growing demand.

“Iloilo has one of the lowest rates of malnourished children, but we should not stop there,” Treñas said.

“If our children have good nutrition, it will be easier for them to learn,” he added.

The Rice-Mongo-Sesame Blend and enhanced nutribun distribution will be rolled out simultaneously as part of the city’s comprehensive strategy to support early learners.