To address malnutrition among school children, the Manila City Government launched on Monday a feeding program that will provide milk to over 21,000 pre-schoolers in the city’s public day care centers.
Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso and Vice Mayor Chi Atienza led the launch of “Yormilk: Kaagapay ng Batang Maynila sa Paglaki” in Tondo.
Up to 21,651 children will receive milk three times a week for 90 days, Moreno said. The program will be implemented through child development centers in 436 barangays, with milk sourced from local producers.
The initiative is being carried out in coordination with the Department of Health, National Dairy Authority, and partner cooperatives.
Based on Manila Department of Social Welfare data, 1,593 pupils enrolled in the city’s 467 child development centers are classified as “wasted” or “severely wasted,” meaning they have very low weight for their height, indicating acute malnutrition.