POE LAUDS PASSAGE OF FEEDING PROGRAM BILL

Sen. Grace Poe on Monday lauded the passage of her pet measure that institutionalizes the school feeding program, in a move that tackles malnutrition especially among schoolchildren.

Speaking following the Senate's approval of Senate Bill No. 1279 or the Masustansiyang Pagkain Para Sa Batang Pilipino Act on third and final reading on a vote of 18-0, Poe said the legislation acts as a safety net for students suffering from malnutrition.

"It is definitely one of the safety nets for the poor at a time when prices of basic goods and food are increasing. It is a measure to save the pain inflicted by the burdensome demands that we have now," said Poe, author and co-sponsor of the bill.

The measure, which institutionalizes the program currently being implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), will now be sent to a bicameral conference committee to discuss the disagreeing provisions of the Senate and House versions.

"Higit pa, walang leakage kung diretso sa sikmura ng ating mga anak. Ito po ang ating investment for the future. Ako'y nagpapasalamat kasi ngayon kung ito ay maipapasa na lalung-lalo na kung kasama ang Lower House, ang ating mga anak sa public schools ay meron nang makukunan ng pagkain," Poe added.

The DepEd and the DSWD allocated P5.3 billion and P3.43 billion, respectively, to implement the program this year.