Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the implementation of the School-Based Feeding Program or SBFP of selected Elementary Central Schools in the Division of Quezon for the School Year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 in order to propose a responsive, comprehensive, and sustainable intervention program. The findings revealed that the schools complied with the data and plans needed to start the program, the funds were downloaded either in 1 or 2 tranche/s but other sources were evident, orientation was conducted, stakeholders as partners were Non-Government Organizations or NGOs and Local Government Unis or LGUs, Detecto was the weighing scale being used, in program management such as 100% attendance of pupils-beneficiaries, parents involvement and nutritional education were less achieved, proper handwashing and good grooming were less practiced as health and nutritional values, in complementary activities such as deworming, Gulayan sa Paaralan and composting and segregation were not given that importance unlike adherence to food and safety protocols, the forms were submitted and the funds are properly liquidated. In addition, there were high number of pupils who are Underweight, Severely Wasted and Wasted after the implementation of School-Based Feeding Program although such are effective in terms of Body Mass Index or BMI increment of the beneficiaries based on the computed t-value at 0.05 level of significance. Furthermore, the issues or concerns being encountered by the schools were in relation to program management funds, complementary activities, stakeholders’ and parents’ partnership and health and nutritional values while the recurring problems are related to decrease and no or little weight gains and the large number of pupils who are Severely Wasted and Wasted after 120 days School-Based Feeding Program. The actions taken for the issues and concerns were proper planning like preparation of calendar of activities, provision of funds from other source, increasing manpower and stakeholders’ involvement, utilization of Gulayan sa Paaralan, competitions on the goals of the program, installation of more handwashing areas and information campaign through different ways were done by the school. With regards to the identified problems, the actions taken were continuous feeding program, double feeding scheme, more food serving and supplementary feeding program.
