DepEd Rolls Out Mental Health and Feeding Programs, IIRR Joins as Key Partner
QUEZON CITY, Philippines (24 January 2024)—The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) joined the Department of Education’s (DepEd) national launch of the School Mental Health Program and the kick-off of the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) for fiscal year 2024.
As a partner of DepEd in implementing the SBFP, IIRR, through its Food Security and Nutrition Program Manager, Ma.Shiela Anunciado, expressed its continuing support for Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd (OK sa DepEd), which is the agency’s flagship initiative to improve school health and nutrition.
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte led the event, which gathered over 500 participants, including DepEd staff and learners, partner organizations, and representatives from the Quezon City local government unit.
Assistant Secretary Dexter Galban presented updates to the SBFP, which will now provide hot meals for 220 days, an increase from 120 days in the previous school year. The per-learner budget is set at approximately PHP 25 for hot meals and PHP 22 for milk-based feeding, which will run for 55 days.
Advocacy videos were shown during the program, including a feature on IIRR’s support in promoting standardized indigenous vegetable recipes for school feeding.
IIRR’s participation aligns with its broader commitment to nutrition-sensitive programming and sustainable school-based nutrition models in support of improved learner health, well-being, and academic performance.
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