IN THE bid to promote health and nutrition among Negrense children, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental has started its 30-day School-Based Milk Feeding Program in Murcia town earlier this week.
The program is a collaboration among the office of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, provincial board committee on agriculture chairman Third District Board Member Andrew Montelibano, Provincial Nutrition Council and Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
Provincial veterinarian Renante Decena said the school-based feeding program aims to address health and nutrition among school children.
This is mainly by allocating 220 milliliters (ml) required milk intake per day within a 30-day feeding period, he added.
The program has initially covered 208 school children in Murcia as first batch of beneficiaries.
The recipient schools are Gervacio Makilan Elementary School in Barangay Canlandog with 81 recipient-pupils, Don Arturo Alba Sr. Elementary School in Barangay Calimban with 105, and Antawan Elementary School in Barangay Canlandog with 22.
Decena said the flavored fresh milk is sourced out from the Provincial Livestock Breeding Center and Dairy Farm in La Carlota City.
The provincial government-run farm has a daily milk production of 100 liters.
“The milk feeding program is expected to help boost the local dairy industry as it will serve as a sure market for the milk produce of dairy cattle farmers while addressing the malnutrition among school children in the province,” he added.