A total of 19,895 children in the cities of La Carlota, Bago, Bacolod, Bais, and Tanjay benefited from the milk feeding program last year led by the Department of Education (DepEd) in Negros Island in tie-up with the DA-PCC at La Carlota Stock Farm (DA-PCC at LCSF).
The DepEd through its Schools Division Offices (SDO) and DA-PCC at LCSF signed an operating memorandum of agreement (OMOA) to embark on and implement a Milk Feeding Program pursuant to Republic Act No. 11037 also known as the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act”.
The program, which started in November 2020 in Negros Island, is not only beneficial to undernourished children but also to dairy value chain players especially to assisted dairy co-ops of DA-PCC at LCSF, as it has created a higher demand for locally produced milk hence provided them sustainable livelihood.
Meanwhile, the Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative and San Julio Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Cooperative served as suppliers of milk for the program.
Due to the health protocols implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the five cities had designated drop-off points for the delivery, inspection, and acceptance of milk products during the feeding program.
The DA-PCC at LCSF, headed by Center Director Ariel Abaquita, and SDOs continuously implement milk feeding activities this year covering various areas in Negros Island. The former has also started coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the same purpose.
