Samar Food for School recipients raise issues and concerns

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
October 18, 2007

CATBALOGAN CITY, Leyte  –  While it is true that the Food for School (FFS) program of President Gloria Macapaga-Arroyo is helping subsidize food consumption in the form of rice allocation to families, it has also been a source of problem for some sectors.

In the FFS Provincial Technical Working Group (FFS-PTWG) meeting hosted by National Food Authority (NFA) newly assigned general manager Francisca Mercado, the group discovered that in some cases, the real number of enrollees differ from the ones given by the central office.

Provincial Nutrition Action officer (PNAO) Alva Gadin, in one of her monitoring visits to Tarangnan town, said that instead of 75 enrollees only 25 were given.

Lemuel Uy, NFA delivery in charge said that the number came from the central office and that NFA could not alter any data provided.

Dr. Angelica Rodriguez, DepEd Medical officer confirmed that DepEd also erred because it relied on the previous enrolment, however, she said, as this is a national concern, it has been rectified and that they are now awaiting for the corrected delivery.

In other instances, the one-kilo-a-day ration has also encouraged mendicancy said another member of the group, parents instead of farming have solely relied on the government’s dole out.

Presently, 14 municipalities have received a total of 2,612.12 bags of well milled rice for a 19-day allocation period to some 8,303 pupils based on the NFA delivery report dated October 10, 2007.

PGMA’s Food for school Program stated that Grade one pupils and some selected day care children will be supplied with one-kilo a day for 120 days. The FFS-PTWG however, could not ascertain as to when the remaining number of kilos will be dispatched.

NFA Manager Francisca Mercado said she will seek the assistance of the League of Mayors (LMP) of Samar for their support.