Tuesday, October 02, 2007 Food-for-school program covers all public elementary pupils
ALL elementary pupils enrolled in public elementary schools in the 10 municipalities of Mountain Province this school year are beneficiaries of the food-for-school program of the government that has expanded its coverage in the province.
As part of its anti-poverty and hunger mitigation program, the Arroyo administration has been implementing the program which aims not only to mitigate hunger but also prevent further decline of the school children's health status as well as improve attendance of school children in selected schools nationwide.
As per the record of the Mountain Province Division Office, 24,002 grade one to grade six pupils in the 10 towns would be benefiting from the program which provides a ration of one kilogram of rice each day per pupil. The distribution of rice is done daily before the kids go home in the afternoon.
The government has allocated P2.75 billion for the program this year. For 2008, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has increased the budget to P3.3 billion to bolster the government's hunger and poverty mitigation measures.
Aside from the food-for-school program, other hunger mitigation measures that would receive significant budgetary increases are the tindahan natin and barangay food terminals.
