Enclosure to DepEd Order No.  023 s. 2020

Operational Guidelines on the Implementation of the School-Based Feeding Program for School Year 2020-2021

I. RATIONALE

The global COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to various sectors, including the basic education sector. Schools and community learning centers have been closed for physical conduct of classes, as part of government measures to contain COVID-19.

As a response, the Department of Education (DepEd) has developed the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) which lays out the Department’s learning delivery strategy and operational direction that ensures the health, safety, and well-being of all DepEd learners and personnel.

Strengthening the implementation of the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) is identified in the BE-LCP as one of DepEd’s interventions for increasing the physical resilience of learners.

Through the years, the SBFP has been implemented to address hunger and encourage learners to enroll, contribute to the improvement of their nutritional status, provide nourishment for their growth and development, help boost their immune system, and enhance and improve their health and nutrition values. The implementation of the SBFP has been guided by DepEd Order No. 039, s. 2017, or the Operational Guidelines on the Implementation of School-Based Feeding Program for School Years (SY) 2017-2022, and by the supplemental guidelines issued by DepEd for the Fiscal Years (FY) 2018 and 2019.

In 2019, the Department issued DepEd Order No. 036, s. 2019 or the Guidelines on the Implementation of School-Based Feeding Program-Milk Feeding Component to support the SBFP by providing fresh milk supplement to the hot meals given to the beneficiaries under the regular component of the feeding program. The SBFP milk feeding component, anchored on Republic Act (RA) No. 11037, or the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act,” aims to develop the habit of drinking milk among the SBFP beneficiaries, and to likewise improve their nutritional status, classroom attendance, and school performance.

In line with the BE-LCP, the SBFP implementation strategy for SY 2020-2021 needs to be modified, considering the conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, including those that have become part of the “new normal.”

There are now health standards that are required to be observed in various settings. New norms have been set in the movement of goods and people. Many localities remain under a form of community quarantine.