School feeding program

There is no question that hunger stalks households in this country all the way from Metro Manila to Eastern and Western Visayas, the ARMM area, Bicol even Central and Northern Luzon. The impact of food insufficiency falls hardest on children, particularly the 0 to 14 age group. It explains the lack of energy seen in schoolchildren, their absence from schools, their stunted growth and diminished mental capacity.

This is a situation that any government must address. Even developed and rich countries of the world have on-going programs to stave off hunger through soup kitchens, charity programs, official government dole outs (food stamps). School feeding programs are a well-established method. Public school children in the US have free lunches of balanced meals that use inexpensive but wholesome ingredients commonly available in the community.