If sometimes we're too harsh on our elected legislators, it's
for a good reason. Take for instance the Freedom of Information bill that's
been languishing in the archives of Congress for as long as we can remember. To
think that before he assumed office, Noynoy Aquino was all for it. Now that
he's in Malacañang, has he perhaps forgotten all hi campaign promises?
No matter. Congress listens to the voice of the people, even if
in fits and starts. We'd like to commend the House of Representatives for
passing on second reading last week the proposed bill seeking to implement a
feeding program in public pre-schools and elementary schools nationwide.
House Bill 5618 or the proposed National School Feeding Program
Act aims to address incidence of malnutrition, declining academic performance
and dropouts
among school children.
There are 24 authors of the measure, which seeks “to promote the
health of our future generation and to provide a favorable policy environment
towards national self-sufficiency in food.”
If the bill is signed into law, all public kindergarten and
elementary pupils will be given free meals, including milk. The program will be
implemented by the Departments of Education, Social Welfare and Development,
Agriculture, Interior and Local Government, as well as by the National
Nutrition Council, National Dairy Authority and local government units.
The bill also provides tax incentives to private agricultural
companies and other firms for donating food, milk, juices, vitamin supplements
and similar products to the national school feeding program.
Many Filipino children, especially from the low-income groups,
drop out of school because their families cannot afford keep them there from
pre-school to grade six. But if the kids are given food in school, that's one
less burden for their parents.
We hope that the bill passes muster in Congress and the program
gets the full support not only of the concerned government agencies but also
the boundless generosity of business establishments, non-government
organizations and private individuals.
This is one bill that we think will not only benefit Filipino
children, but the nation in the long run. Let’s go for it. -end-
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento