Last month, a ship delivered thousands of food packs to Mindanao, as part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) efforts to help disaster-affected families in the area.
Indeed, food is a basic need that every person should have. And in order to address cases of malnutrition and improve the overall health of Filipino children, the DSWD continues to carry out the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), in coordination with local government units (LGUs) across the country.
What is the Supplementary Feeding Program?
As the name says, the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) is an initiative that seeks to improve and maintain the nutritional status of Filipino children. Specifically, these are the children enrolled in child development centers or supervised neighborhood plays.
Over a period of 120 days, children are provided food, in addition to their regular meals at home. To carry out this program, the DSWD coordinates with LGUs, teachers, and the parents themselves.
Notably, the SFP is part of the DSWD’s contribution to the Philippine government’s Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program as well as Republic Act No. 11037 or the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino” Act.
According to a press release, almost 4 million children have benefited from DSWD’s Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) from 2021 up to June 2023. Without a doubt, this program has truly helped numerous Filipino kids and their families!
Program Objectives
Generally, the Supplemental Feeding Program (SFP) aims to:
- Provide additional support to feeding programs for children in Child Development Centers, using locally sourced produce and ingredients that are equivalent to 1/3 of the Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake (RENI);
- Improve the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of children, parents, and caregivers by providing training on health and nutrition; and
- Improve and maintain the nutritional status of the children.
Target Beneficiaries
The target beneficiaries of the Supplementary Feeding Program include:
- Children 2-4 years old in Supervised Neighborhood Plays;
- Children 3-4 years old enrolled in Child Development Centers;
- 5-year-old children who were not able to enroll in Child Development Centers; and
- Children 5-12 years old who are malnourished and are not part of Child Development Centers.
In addition, for a child to be considered “at risk” for malnutrition, the DSWD also looks for additional criteria, such as: (a) children below 5 years old who are low in weight for their age; (b) children 1-4 years old who are in the bottom 20% of their age group in terms of “height for age,” and (c) children under 12 years old who are suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
Program Activities
Basically, the children’s parents, along with day care workers and other staff from the LGU, prepare a hot meal everyday. The meal usually consists of rice, fish, and vegetables, although other healthy dishes (e.g. soups, bread, etc.) may be served.
At Day Care Centers or Supervised Neighborhood Plays, the food is served during break or snack time in the morning, and later again during break or snack time in the afternoon. These meals include locally produced ingredients equal to 1/3 of the Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake (RENI).
At the start of the feeding cycle, the children are weighed. After 120 days, by the end of the program, the children will be weighed again. In other words, their nutritional status will be checked.
Video: Supplement Feeding Program in Sultan Kudarat
The DSWD’s Supplemental Food Program is implemented all over the country. In the following video shared by “Radyo Agila” YouTube channel, we learn about 1,950 beneficiaries in Sultan Kudarat, who have all benefited from the program:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Meanwhile, here are some commonly asked questions and answers about the Supplementary Feeding Program:
1. What is the Supplementary Feeding Program?
The Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) is an initiative that aims to improve and maintain the nutritional status of Filipino children, especially those who come from poor and marginalized communities.
2. What is the legal basis of the program?
The program is part of the DSWD’s contribution to Republic Act 11037 or the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino” Act. It also seeks to contribute to the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program of the Philippine government.
3. Who are the target beneficiaries?
The target beneficiaries of the program are as follows: (a) children 2-4 years old in Supervised Neighborhood Play; (b) children 3-4 years old enrolled in Child Development Centers; (c) 5-year-old children who were not able to enroll in Child Development Centers; and (d) Children 5-12 years old who are malnourished and are not part of Child Development Centers.
4. What are the activities involved?
Together with day care workers and staff from the LGU, the children’s parents prepare a hot meal everyday. Usually, these meals comprise of local produce and ingredients that are equal to 1/3 of the Recommended Energy and Nutrition Intake (RENI).
5. How can I learn more about the program?
You can learn more about the program by getting in touch with the DSWD Central Ofice, whose contact details are given below.
Contact Information: DSWD Central Office
If you are based in the National Capital Region (NCR), you can learn more about the Supplementary Feeding Program by contacting the DSWD Central office through the following details:
Address: Batasang Pambansa Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City, Philippines, 1126
Telephone: (02) 8931 8101 to 07
Email: socpengrievances@dswd.gov.ph (for inquiries or complaints)
Website: https://www.dswd.gov.ph/
Google Map:
Latest Updates
Based on the latest press release, more than 1.9 million children benefited from the DSWD’s feeding programs last year. To be exact — 1,935,515 children participated in the department’s Supplementary Feeding Programs (SFP) in 2023.
Final Thoughts
Food is essential to everyone; we need it to have good health and proper nutrition. Thanks to the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) of the DSWD, children in poor communities — or those who are at risk for malnutrition — can receive the nourishment that they need!
Speaking of food, earlier this year, government officials stated that they are considering giving rice instead of cash to 4Ps beneficiaries. Check out this link to know more about the topic!