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Dairy group asks DepEd to extend school milk feeding program to 120 days

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The National Federation of Dairy Farmers and Stakeholders’ Association (Dairy NatFed) asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to extend its school-based milk feeding program from 55 days to at least 120 days.

“The National Nutrition Council [NNC] stresses that a feeding duration of 90–120 days is essential for significant improvements in children’s nutrition,” Dairy NatFed president Danilo Fausto said in a letter to Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara.

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The dairy group said in the letter dated Jan. 7, 2025 the extension’s dual benefits include addressing malnutrition among Filipino schoolchildren and provide a guaranteed market for local dairy farmers, boosting their income.

Fausto said the program extension would require a higher budget allocation.

The DepEd’s school-based feeding program (SBFP) has a budget of P11.776 billion, covering hot meals for 120 days annually and milk for only 55 days.

The group suggested that the DepEd’s 120-day feeding program for hot meals include milk consistently throughout the same period.

Under Republic Act 11037, also known as the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, the DepEd is mandated to provide fortified meals including fresh milk and milk-based food products to undernourished public school students for a minimum of 120 days annually.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) already provides milk for 120 days to daycare children through its supplemental feeding program.

Fausto noted the critical link between nutrition and cognitive performance, citing studies showing Filipino students rank poorly in global creative thinking skills.

“Hunger directly impacts a child’s cognitive, academic, and extracurricular development,” he said.

The Philippine Dairy Industry Roadmap 2020–2025 identified the expansion of DepEd’s milk-feeding program as a key strategy to support local dairy farmers and combat malnutrition.

The roadmap noted the program’s past shortcomings, citing sustainability and funding issues that have limited its impact on the domestic dairy sector.

“This initiative can become a cornerstone of DepEd’s efforts to nurture the nation’s youth and elevate their potential,” Fausto said.

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