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Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Education, food agencies to subsidize rice to poor pupils
In response to the need of public elementary school children who suffer from short term hunger syndrome and under-nutrition, which stunt their physical and mental development, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed the Department of Education (Deped) and the National Food Authority (NFA) to immediately implement the rice subsidy program that will benefit targeted Grade I pupils and their families.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was entered into by the Deped and the NFA to address the result of a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) during the 3rd quarter of 2005.
The SWS survey revealed that 15.5 percent of Filipino families experienced hunger at least once in the previous three months.
Also, 21.46 percent of public elementary school children suffer from the short term hunger syndrome and under-nutrition.
The Deped, through the Health and Nutrition Center (NHC) and in collaboration with NFA and other government and non-government organizations, has consolidated efforts to come up with the rice subsidy scheme for Grade I pupils and their families under the Rice through School Program. This is to stave off hunger and improve nutrition, school attendance and completion rate.
In the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), through its Deped-NHC, the Maguindanao and Sulu provinces have been identified as beneficiaries of the program.
Deped-Armm-NHC in-charge Sitti Surmiya L. Reyes said that in Maguindanao they have identified schools in seven areas, including Barira North and South, Kabuntalan North and South, Datu Paglas North and South and Matanong. In Sulu, the areas include the municipalities of Tongkil, Panamao, Paglima Estino, Tapul, Kalingalan Galuang, Pata, Marunggas, Maimbung, Lugus and Pandami.
"The rice subsidy program benefits 7,771 grade I pupils in the region. The pupils are given 1 kilo of rice a day. This is until March 2006," Reyes said.
The MOA takes effect upon the signing of this agreement and will be in force until March 2006 unless extended by Deped and NFA. The parties represented by Deped Officer-In-Charge Fe A. Hidalgo and NFA Administrator Gregorio V. Tan Jr. signed the MOA on December 1, 2005.
The rice subsidy program of the government has a budget of P193 million.
Reyes said the identified municipalities in Maguindanao have received already their rice subsidy for the month of December while identified municipalities in Sulu will be receiving their share for the months of December and January this month.
Armm Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan has immediately directed officials of both departments to implement such order from the President.
"This rice subsidy program for our children in the Grade I level should be given much priority. They should be given immediate action," the governor said while stressing that Armm is doing everything to improve the lifestyle of the constituents of the region.
(January 11, 2006 issue)
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