Governor Pamela Baricuatro is pushing for a province-wide school feeding program in Cebu, built on a centralized system and partnerships with foundations, private donors, and non-government organizations.
The proposed initiative aims to ensure kindergarten and grade school students receive complete daily meals, including breakfast and lunch, once classes resume.
Instead of leaving schools to manage feeding efforts independently, the provincial government is working to create a coordinated network for food sourcing and distribution.
SimplyShare Foundation Inc., a food bank founded by Baricuatro, is being considered as a key partner in handling donated food.
Under the proposed setup, the Cebu Provincial Government will supply rice, while SimplyShare will manage viands donated by partner organizations and companies.
“Ang food banking, it addresses three things; hunger, waste, and environment,” Baricuatro said.
Breakfast support is expected to come from Rise Against Hunger, another partner tapped for the program, with the goal of providing nutritionally balanced meals for students.
The governor emphasized that meals will include both rice and protein to ensure adequate nutrition.
Private sector participation is also being explored, with companies such as Century Pacific committing to provide food items for the initiative.
Donated goods are planned to be stored and processed through SimplyShare’s warehouse to ensure food safety and proper monitoring.
Baricuatro said the proposed model is designed to address gaps in previous feeding efforts, where schools often handled limited assistance on their own.
The centralized system aims to streamline logistics, strengthen partnerships, and improve consistency in meal delivery.
However, the partnership has yet to be finalized. Provincial Public Health consultant Dr. Nicole Elisse Catalan said the proposal still needs formal agreements and approval from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
She also noted the importance of sustained leadership and community involvement to ensure the program’s long-term viability. (SBA)
Comments