City Social Welfare and Development Officer (CSWDO) Lilibeth Maligsay proudly stated that nothing hinders the timely implementation of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.

According to her, feeding sessions are conducted at the right time because of usual standard operating procedures in the City.

If delay of funds happens, the Day Care Parents’ Group contributes for the food stuff. In the case of Brgy. Nalupta Day Care Center (DCC), parents shoulder for the meantime the budget in buying food items and such will be liquidated. Each parent shells out P13.00 a day. This is an initiative of the DCC Parents’ Group.

All food items bought by the parents are listed and recorded in a notebook for liquidation purposes duly prepared by the Treasurer and approved by the President. The record book is in the custody of the DC Worker, Ms. Imelda Marie Quilit.

All DC workers devote time in the preparation of quality report every end of the quarter which satisfies the requirements of the Commission on Audit (COA) and City Accountant.

Parents also help in preparing hot meals for the children. They are guided by the daily schedule (AM and PM sessions).

According to Estella Domingo, 36, preparing and cooking hot meals serve as bonding time with all her fellow parents. They noticed that most of the children do not like some of the suggested menu cycle, so they were substituted with food having the same nutritive value duly approved by the City Nutrition Action Officer Erlinda Cabuyadao.

Due to the change, the nutritional status of all the Nalupta DC children improved and the children no longer suffer from diseases like constipation and Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).

All barangays in Batac City are supportive of the implementation of SFP because of the directive of City Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta.

With the OMGulay Project of the City Government, all barangays especially in rural areas have their own vegetable garden managed by barangay officials and parents to augment the food items for the feeding activities in DCCs.

One of the favorites of the Nalupta DCC is the veggie noodles made from malunggay and squash produced by Brgy. Palongpong thru the One Barangay, One Product Project of the City Government.

“SFP is our guide in maintaining the health and nutrition of our children with the help of hot meals,” said Estella. (by: Jaesem Ryan A. Gaces, Administrative Assistant III, NHTS-PR/Listahanan)