QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 7797)
The IRR implements RA 11037 by establishing a National Feeding Program to address undernutrition among Filipino children. It covers supplemental feeding for public day care/child development contexts (DSWD-led) and school-based feeding for undernourished public elementary learners from Kindergarten to Grade 6 (DepEd-led), including certain home-based supplemental feeding programs managed by DSWD in coordination with LGUs and DepEd’s SBFP consistent with the Act’s definitions.
The main components are: (1) a Supplemental Feeding Program for day care children (DSWD leads in coordination with LGUs), (2) a School-Based Feeding Program (DepEd leads for undernourished public school children K–6), and (3) a Milk Feeding Program component involving coordination among NGAs and dairy-related agencies (NDA/PCC/DA coordination) to include fresh milk and milk-based products in fortified meals.
An undernourished child is one supplied with less than the minimum amount of foods essential for sound health and growth, including children with chronic hunger/malnutrition and those classified as wasted, severely wasted, or stunted under WHO growth standards. For targeting/selection under the IRR, 'stunting' and 'wasting' are used (while 'underweight' is collected only for growth monitoring).
Supplemental Feeding Program covers undernourished children aged 3 to 5 years (DSWD in CDCs/community-based facilities/home-based programs). School-Based Feeding Program covers undernourished public school children from Kindergarten to Grade 6.
Under the IRR, the program must include at least one fortified meal for a period not less than 120 days in a year. For DSWD’s supplemental feeding, fortified meals are served for a 120-day period as well (minimum 5 days up to maximum 7 days per week). For DepEd’s SBFP, it likewise requires at least one fortified meal for not less than 120 days annually for undernourished public elementary school children.
A 'cycle menu' is a standardized set of carefully planned menus rotated according to a definite pattern, prepared by NGAs in coordination with NNC and FNRI, then contextualized based on age range, location, and local cultural/religious preferences, and reflecting availability of food in the locality. It guides the standardized recipe and meal fortification requirements.
A 'fortified meal' is a meal with deliberately increased essential micronutrients to improve nutritional quality, providing the level of calories and protein prescribed by NNC, consisting of at least one-third (1/3) of daily requirement based on PDRI. It must also contain at least fifty percent (50%) requirements for micronutrients based on PDRI. Fortification may use nutrient-dense foods, iron-fortified rice, fortified food products, and/or multiple micronutrient powder.
The NGAs coordinate with DA, NDA, PCC (and relevant agencies) to incorporate fresh milk and fresh milk-based products into fortified meals and cycle menus in accordance with RA 8976/RA 7884 and related laws. NDA and PCC assist NGAs in nationwide coordination and ensure procurement/distribution systems and standards. DA is coordinated for food production aspects and milk-related support, while NGAs ensure compliance and procurement procedures (including consultation with GPPB).
Fresh milk or fresh milk-based product to be served under the program shall not be less than 100 ml per serving, together with fortified meals. It may also be used as an ingredient in recipes to enhance nutritional content.
The IRR requires NGAs, in coordination with DOH and LGUs, to conduct health examinations, vaccination, and deworming as applicable. DepEd conducts health and nutrition assessment to identify undernourished learners for SBFP enrollment, allocates and uses Individual School Health Cards, while DOH/LGUs provide medical examinations and services according to DOH guidelines, and DSWD CDWs monitor vaccination/deworming and report to LSWDO.
The NGAs, in coordination with DOH and LGUs, must establish and maintain water and sanitation facilities, promote good hygiene, and ensure safe food preparation in all component units. LGUs must conduct WASH campaigns (including open defecation prevention and proper handwashing), assist in establishment of facilities, ensure regular water supply testing, train food handlers and provide health permits/inspections, and investigate reported food/waterborne diseases.
The Program is complemented by education/training modules and campaigns to promote holistic nutrition and values transformation. Orientation-training is held for NGAs/LGUs personnel, parent volunteers/PTAs, and learners’ organizations. NGAs consult NNC to formulate or enhance school- and community-based training modules. For Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, DSWD uses the Family Development Session to implement integrated nutrition education and behavioral transformation for families with children 0–8.
NGAs must create a five-year plan and prioritize areas meeting any criteria: (1) highest prevalence and/or magnitude of undernutrition/nutrient deficiency (ages 3 to Grade 6), (2) available facilities/capability to implement, or (3) willingness to provide counterpart resources and local priority to implement.
The NNC harmonizes nutrition databases and hosts the NNIS. It supports decisions for identifying nutritionally depressed localities and includes inventories of nutrition interventions complementary to the feeding program. Government agencies must maintain databases linked to NNIS while observing data privacy principles.
Twice annually, on or before the start and then end of each school year, databases are updated in all day care centers and schools implementing the program for baseline/endline monitoring, then submitted to regional and national levels annually.
NGAs encourage private sector participation (PTAs, corporations, NGOs, etc.) and DepEd/DSWD are to develop a Joint Memorandum of Agreement covering criteria/qualifications and roles/responsibilities. The partnership must not contradict prohibitions under EO 51 (breastmilk substitutes/related marketing rules) and FCTC Article 5.3, among others, and must avoid partnerships with organizations whose primary purpose is illegal or contrary to morals/public policy.
Donations or requests made to NGAs/LGUs for the Program are exempt from donor’s tax, provided that donations in kind are approved by the concerned NGAs upon recommendation of NNC (for food products) and DOH (for vaccine and supplements). NGAs also submit feeding program projects for inclusion in NEDA’s National Priority Programs list to qualify for full tax deduction for private sector donations.
DBM, GPPB, and COA, in consultation with NGAs, must establish and promulgate a community-based mode of procurement, liquidation, and audit within 90 days after IRR effectivity to ensure efficient and effective implementation by NGAs and LGUs. The community-based mode references Section 53.12 of the revised IRR of RA 9184, and GPPB may amend existing manuals/guidelines if needed.