Abra allots over P22M fund to fight child malnutrition

Bangued, Abra - With malnutrition still a concern among young Abreños, the Provincial Government of Abra, under the leadership of Eustaquio P. Bersamin, has allotted more than P22 million in funding for its Supplementary Feeding Program to nourish children enrolled in Child Development Centers across the province.

All 27 municipalities will benefit from the P22,680,000, which will be implemented through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO). Said allocation fund the 120-day hot meal feeding initiative that seeks to improve the nutritional status of daycare learners.

Beneficiaries of said program are children ages 0-4, according to the PSWDO.

From January to March 2025, Abra listed over 1,000 malnourished children from the 15,587 covered under the Operation Timbang Plus (OPT). The OPT helped identify children who are underweight, wasted, stunted, or obese.

Social Welfare Officer Cherry Pacursa of the PSWDO, in her interview with the Philippine Information Agency - Abra, said the feeding program does not simply end with serving hot meals. It aims to actually improve the health of the children.

To ensure this, close monitoring is being done by the office and Provincial Nutrition Committee all through the 120-day period to see if the children are gaining weight and improving nutritionally.

“Kadwa mi met ti Provincial Nutrition Committee nga ag-monitor kadagitoy ubbing nu adda ba ti nag-improve-an da after 120 days ti panagpakan da ti hot meals ti day care center mairaman pay dagiti two-year-olds nga makitkita da nga adda ti nutritional concerns na,” added Pacursa.

The PSWDO officer appealed for continued support from the local government units, sharing that some LGUs are willing to help enhance the program, adding that the efforts of others earned them regional recognition.

“We encourage the support of the local government to add to the willing nga ag-augment iti programa nga maaw-awardan idiay region,” she relayed.