Zero hunger in focus in Cebu with P140M province-wide feeding program

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)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baricuatro allocates P140M for malnutrition, food insecurity program for Cebu

CEBU CITY-- Amid a sobering reminder of the structural hurdles facing public health in Central Visayas, Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro kicked off the province’s 52nd Nutrition Month celebration with an aggressive ₱140-million counter-offensive against child malnutrition and food
insecurity.

Announced on Wednesday, July 1, at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Grounds under the national theme “Nutrisyon at Kalikasan, Ating Pangalagaan,” the massive local government mobilization arrives just as newly released data underscores Cebu’s position at the epicenter of the region’s nutritional crisis.

According to the latest 2025 Operation Timbang Plus (OPT Plus) survey released by the National Nutrition Council (NNC)-Region VII, chronic malnutrition remains a deep-seated provincial battleground. While regional stunting rates (low height-for-age) showed a slight percentage decline to 6.33%, a staggering 40,674 children under five in Central Visayas remain stunted.

Due to its dense population, Cebu Province accounts for over half of these numbers, logging 20,664 stunted children—the highest volume of stunting among all provinces nationwide.  

Furthermore, the regional data tracks 18,735 underweight children with 8,672 in Cebu Province alone and 7,152 suffering from wasting or acute thinness. This nutritional deficit is compounded by severe systemic strain; the Expanded National Nutrition Survey reveals that 35.6% of households in Central Visayas suffer from moderate to severe food insecurity, eclipsing the national average of 31.4%.  

“If you ask me what kind of Cebu I dream of, my answer is simple,” Gov. Baricuatro remarked, visibly emotional as she marked her first year in office during the July 1 launch. “A Cebu where every family has the opportunity to live a healthy and dignified life. How can we talk about economic growth, quality education, and tourism if our people themselves are hungry and their bodies lack proper nutrition?”

Capitol's tactical blueprint

To actively reverse these metrics, Cebu Province rolls out a multi-pronged intervention strategy that targets both immediate hunger and long-term health stabilization:  ₱140-Million Feeding Allocation: an expansive financial package injected directly into community-level supplemental feeding.

The Mobile Kitchen Fleet: Seven state-of-the-art mobile kitchens scheduled for deployment across rural and vulnerable sectors this July to rapidly distribute hot, nutrient-dense meals.

Mass Micronutrient Campaign: A target distribution of 600,000 Vitamin A capsules and 300,000 iron supplements to Rural Health Units (RHUs) across every city and municipality in Cebu, directly intervening in the crucial early development phases of toddlers.

Capitol Piso Health Consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan underscored that the intervention represents a shift from passive health management to active governance. “Malnutrition is not only a health concern; it is a governance concern,” Catalan emphasized. “The data on malnutrition in Cebu is not something we can ignore; it should disturb us, but more importantly, it should move us to act.”

Model localities and health systems recognized

While the regional numbers present an uphill climb, the launch also celebrated local government units (LGUs) and medical facilities showing breakthrough success in managing community health profiles under strict guidelines.

The Municipality of Dalaguete took center stage, receiving a Plaque of Achievement as a 2025 National Nutrition Green Banner Seal of Compliance Awardee for its progressive grassroot nutrition models.

The Capitol also officially recognized municipalities and health offices that recorded the lowest stunting and maternal health risks based on the 2025 metrics:   Lowest Stunting Prevalence (OPT Version 1) went to Bogo City Health Office, Borbon RHU, Minglanilla RHU, San Fernando RHU, Naga City Health Office.

Lowest Prevalence of Nutritionally At-Risk Pregnant Women went to Oslob, Alcantara, Ronda, San Remigio, Cordova.  

Retaining mother-baby friendly status, 13 provincial and district facilities were lauded for successfully retaining their Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (MBFHI) status for 2025, ensuring that foundational nutrition—specifically early, exclusive breastfeeding—is guarded at birth. Cebu Provincial Hospitals (Danao, Carcar, Bogo, Balamban); District Hospitals (Badian, Tuburan, Oslob, Bantayan, Daanbantayan); Isidro C. Kintanar Memorial Hospital; Ricardo L. Maningo Memorial Hospital; Tuan B. Dosado Memorial Hospital and Jose Ma. Borromeo Memorial Hospital.

As Nutrition Month continuous through July, provincial health officials hope that Cebu's hyper-localized, heavily funded approach sets a benchmark for how local government units can actively reclaim the health and futures of the region's youth.

Cebu to implement P20 Rice Project via FTI Kadiwa Centers

CEBU CITY – The Cebu Provincial Government is set to implement the P20 Rice Project, a national initiative designed to provide vulnerable and marginalized sectors with consistent access to affordable rice through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed on April 29, between the Capitol and the Food Terminal
Inc. (FTI).

Governor Pamela Baricuatro on behalf of the provincial government and FTI President and CEO Joseph Rudolph Lo sealed the corporation of capping the price of rice at P20 per kilo.  The realization of the agreement was made possible through a resolution authored by Seventh District Provincial Board (PB) Member Caesar Baricuatro.

The P20 Rice Project aims to alleviate the financial burden on low-income families and ensure regional food sufficiency. Beyond immediate relief, the partnership reinforces the decentralized authority granted by the Local Government Code of 1991.

This legislative support builds upon previous provincial efforts to maintain food security, such as the Deed of Donation for rice sacks facilitated by PB Member Nelson Mondigo during calamities that hit Cebu in 2025.

According to Baricuatro, the agreement empowers the Provincial government to take a proactive role in food security and social equity, ensuring that national agricultural policies are executed with local precision and direct accountability to the constituents.

FTI-KADIWA Centers serve as the official distribution hubs across the province and acts as the project’s logistical backbone, utilizing a community-centered approach to ensure that subsidized rice reaches the intended beneficiaries without delay, FTI CEO said.

Food Terminal Inc., is a Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation (GOCC) under the Department of Agriculture (DA) committed to enhance food processing and distribution networks throughout the Philippines.

This collaboration with Cebu marks a significant step forward in making essential staples more accessible to every Filipino household, Baricuatro said. (Photos: Capitol PIO)