Senate committee says feeding programs should be handled by LGUs 

THE SENATE finance committee on Wednesday said government feeding programs should be devolved to local government units (LGUs) for better implementation.  

“This activity being explained by the National Nutrition Council is an activity which can be done with ease and better coordination by the LGUs,” said Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon during the hearing. “The National Nutrition Council should just set the policy which the LGUs will follow.”  

Nutrition Council Executive Director Azucena M. Dayanghirang said under the proposed 2022 budget, a P210-million supplementation program for nutritionally at-risk pregnant women was not included. 

Ms. Dayanghirang said the plan was to implement the program with LGUs providing the transport services.  

The senators, however, said it was better for the LGUs to handle the entire job. “LGUs can do this on a daily basis, a feeding program with better success because they know the people quite well on the ground,” Mr. Drilon said.   

Senator Pilar Juliana “Pia” S. Cayetano noted that the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Education also received budget cuts in their feeding programs. “There really has to be a limit to what the national (government) can spend and efficiently carry out.” — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan