BALAMBAN, Cebu -- The fight against hunger and child malnutrition in Cebu is getting a double-barreled boost with the Cebu Provincial Government rolling out its massive ₱140-million localized feeding program with the launching of the province-wide "Tabang Pangpabaskog Feeding Program” that kicked off on July 16 at the barangay gym in Cambuhawe, Balamban, feeding around 1,000 pupils from Jose Chona Jo Elementary School.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, Balamban Mayor Amos Cabahug and DepEd Cebu Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Senen Priscillo Paulin signed the memorandum of understanding to solidify their partnership and seamlessly aligning with the national government's flagship "Walang Gutom 2027" campaign, creating a powerful safety net for the province's most vulnerable sectors.
The biggest game-changer in this program is the shift to ready-to-eat meals. Unlike previous capitol feeding programs that only provided raw rice, the provincial government is now delivering fully cooked, hot breakfasts straight to classrooms.
“We don't want this feeding program to hassle you. We don't want our teachers and parents to have to do the cooking. When this reaches you, it's already ready to eat meals,” Baricuatro emphasized that the program was designed with convenience in mind.
To ensure no child is left behind, the Capitol backed the initiative with a massive budget and a structured, multi-month strategy with the allocation to secure food supply, logistical operations, and the deployment of seven mobile kitchens across the province to fast-track food preparation and delivery.
“The intervention runs for at least 120 days, featuring hot meal distributions, weekly food assistance, nutritional drinks, and regular weight monitoring to track progress, targeting the vulnerable learners,” Baricuatro said.
Nutritious food wasn't the only thing delivered during the launch. To ease the financial burden of the new school year on local families, Baricuatro also led the distribution of essential school supplies.
Young students from Kindergarten to Grade 3 happily received brand-new school bags packed with notebooks, writing paper, crayons, and pencils—giving them the tools they need to succeed both nutritionally and academically.
Filling the gaps, the program is designed to seamlessly complement existing nutritional efforts run by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for daycare centers and DepEd for public schools—the "Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program", which was institutionalized under Executive Order No. 44.
The National
“Walang Gutom” program push
Beneficiaries of the program receive an
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card loaded with ₱3,000 monthly food credits
to purchase nutritious food items like rice, protein, and vegetables from the
DSWD-accredited retailers.
To maintain eligibility, beneficiaries must attend Nutrition Education Sessions and participate in job training programs offered by DOLE and TESDA, encouraging long-term self-sufficiency. By restricting food redemptions to DSWD-accredited local stores, the program funnels money directly back to local farmers and fisherfolk.
Cebu is currently a primary battlefield in the national war on hunger. Just last month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally traveled to Cebu City to launch the Visayas region's very first Walang Gutom Kitchen.
Located near Pier 4 along Arellano Boulevard,
this specialized community hub recently expanded its services on July 11, to
serve both free breakfast and lunch daily on a first-come, first-served basis
to homeless individuals, low-income port laborers, and families experiencing
involuntary hunger.
With both the DSWD's community-level food programs and Cebu Province’s newly minted school feeding initiative running side-by-side, Cebu is mounting one of the most comprehensive, multi-layered defenses against hunger in the country. (Photos: Capitol PIO/DSWD7)
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