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| Photo courtesy of Manila PIO |
By John Lester Naguna
MANILA (PIA) — The Manila City government launched a supplementary feeding program Monday designed to reverse rising malnutrition and stunting rates among over 21,000 preschoolers in the capital’s depressed communities.
The initiative, “Yormilk: Kaagapay ng Batang Maynila sa Paglaki,” addresses a critical development gap identified by the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW), which found 1,593 “wasted” and “severely wasted” children across 467 Child Development Centers.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, speaking at the launch in Barangay 137, Tondo, emphasized that the program is a direct response to the long-term threat stunting poses to human capital development.
“Nalulungkot ako na sa Maynila, sa Maynila mismo, sa kapitolyo ng bansa, ay lumalakas at lumalaki ang numero ng pagkabansot or stunting,” Domagoso said. “Hindi dahil sa maliit ang lahi natin, kundi dahil kulang tayo ng tamang nutrisyon.”
Moving beyond standard commercial procurement, the program adopts a sustainable supply chain model by partnering with the National Dairy Authority (NDA) and the Department of Health. The city will source fresh milk directly from Filipino cattle farmers, creating an economic link between urban nutrition needs and rural agricultural livelihoods.
“Mas minabuti ko na sariwa, ligtas, malinis, at maayos na gatas na produkto mismo ng ating mga magbabaka sa Pilipinas,” Domagoso noted, highlighting the dual benefit of food safety and support for the local dairy industry.
NDA Administrator Atty. Marcus Andaya commended the initiative, identifying Manila as the first local government unit (LGU) in the country to utilize locally produced milk for a preschool supplemental feeding program.
According to Andaya, the program goes beyond addressing malnutrition. It establishes a consistent, sustainable market for Filipino dairy farmers.
The program targets the economic barriers to nutrition. With fresh milk often priced beyond the reach of daily wage earners, families in low-income barangays are frequently forced to prioritize caloric volume over nutritional density.
“Mahal ang gatas. Mahal, kaya kung minsan mas nauuna nating bilhin ang mga bagay na makabubusog sa tiyan ng ating mga supling dala ng hirap ng buhay,” Domagoso explained.
To mitigate this, the city mobilized 423 child development workers to ensure the milk reaches 21,651 beneficiaries three times a week for a 90-day cycle.
Domagoso assured stakeholders of the program’s fiscal sustainability, committing to reallocate city funds to renew the feeding cycle if health markers do not improve after the initial three months.
“Kahit wala tayong pera, maghahanap ako ng pera para lang lumusog ang mga Batang Maynila,” he affirmed.
The mayor also underscored the participatory role of parents in ensuring the intervention succeeds, reminding them that the resources are social investments funded by taxpayers.
“Itabi ninyo ’yan para sa anak ninyo. ’Yan ay pera nila galing sa taxpayer,” he said, urging parents to view the nutrition support as a stepping stone for their children’s education. “Gusto ko, mga bata, malusog kayo at tumangkad kayo agad.” (JLN/PIA-NCR)
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