Starting June this year, about 135,000 pupils in the 527 public elementary schools under the Negros Oriental Schools Division, in Oriental Negros, will be given free lunch for the entire school year.

Schools Division Superintendent Aleli Abne said the massive feeding program is estimated to cost about P40 million.

Rep. Herminio Teves (Oriental Negros, 3rd district), who pushed for the program, said he is confident he will get financial support from Reps. Jacinto Paras and Emilio Macias II, of the first and second districts, respectively, and from other sources.

The provincial government, which has been implementing a feeding program for several years now, will also allocate funds for the program.

Abne said Teves proposed the program after he noted the dismal performance of public elementary pupils in the province in national and international achievement tests.

She said the pupils will be served in their schools lunch, consisting of nutritious foods. She said, at present, many pupils are usually absent in the afternoon especially those living in remote areas, and that has affected their studies.

She said that after lunchtime, the pupils will undergo a 45-minute reading session.

Abne said the Gulayan at Palaisdaan Alay sa Kabataan Program, which won for the province the Galing Pook Award for 2005, will be intensified to sustain the program.

The GPAK was institutionalized by the provincial government in public schools and is expected to generate income from the sale of vegetables and fish.*RA

back to top