(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 16 January 2026) Dinagat Islands will experience rains with gusty winds due to TS “Ada”. Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to heavy rains. Minimal to minor threat to life and property due to strong winds. Northern Mindanao and the rest of Caraga will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to TS “Ada”. Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains. The rest of Mindanao will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. The eastern section of Mindanao will have moderate to strong winds from west to southwest with moderate to rough seas (2.1 to 3.4 meters). The rest of Mindanao will have light to moderate winds from northeast to northwest with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters). At 3:00 PM today, the center of Tropical Storm "ADA" {NOKAEN} was estimated based on all available data at 270 km East of Borongan City, Eastern Samar (12.1°N, 127.9°E) with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h. It is moving Northwestward at 20 km/h. Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern and Central Luzon.


Friday, 7 February 2025

Implementation of supplementary feeding in Caraga exceeds target in 2024

BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga’s Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) completed its 14th program cycle in 2024 exceeding its target for hot meals and fully achieving its goal for fresh milk distribution among nutritionally at-risk children in the Caraga region. 

The program served 77,854 children with hot meals, representing 102.72 percent of its target, and provided fresh milk to 5,885 children, achieving 100 percent of its target.                           

“We are incredibly proud of our team’s dedication and the strong support from our Local Government Unit partners, which enabled us to surpass our meal target and reach every child targeted for milk supplementation,” said DSWD FO Caraga SFP Focal Person, Lea Alegarbes, nutrition dietician (ND) III.

Despite these successes, the SFP faced challenges during implementation. A key concern is the current budget allocation of P15.00 per meal, which program implementers acknowledge may not be sufficient to achieve optimal weight gain and nutritional recovery for all children. Lengthy local procurement processes, often taking 3-5 months due to supplier availability and complex bidding procedures, also posed logistical hurdles. However, the DSWD Field Office Caraga SFP Unit worked closely with suppliers and local government units (LGUs) to maximize available resources and minimize disruptions.

Looking ahead to 2025, the SFP is implementing significant improvements and launching new initiatives to enhance its impact and address these challenges. These efforts focus on four key areas:

Streamlining Procurement: To ensure timely implementation at the start of the school year in June, the procurement of goods for 2025 will transition to regional procurement, streamlining the purchasing process and reducing delays.

Enhancing Support Services: The program will strengthen its “WE CARE” initiative by hiring additional social workers. This expansion will broaden program coverage and improve referral systems, connecting families with essential extra services such as health check-ups, counseling, and parental skills training as part of a more comprehensive intervention plan.

A Holistic Approach to Nutrition: Recognizing that malnutrition is often rooted in complex social factors, the SFP will adopt a more integrated approach in 2025. This means combining nutrition-specific activities (like meal feeding) with nutrition-sensitive activities that address underlying issues such as poverty, limited access to education, and other social determinants of health. This holistic strategy aims to create a more supportive and nurturing environment for children’s growth and development.

“In line with the directive of Sec. Rex Gatchalian in addressing the root causes of malnutrition, we aim to create sustainable improvements in children’s health and well-being,” explained Alegarbes.

Furthermore, SFP is excited to introduce the following new community-based initiatives:

Community Organizing: This initiative will focus on empowering communities by strengthening backyard gardening practices and enhancing the skills of Day-care Service Parents Groups in promoting healthy nutrition at home.

Referrals: The program will establish stronger referral pathways to government offices and NGOs for medical interventions, such as deworming and micronutrient supplementation, and for livelihood and skills training opportunities for parents and caregivers.

Stakeholder Training: To ensure effective implementation of these new initiatives, the program will conduct comprehensive orientations and training for stakeholders, including local government officials, daycare workers, parents, and community volunteers.

The DSWD Field Office Caraga’s Supplementary Feeding Program is committed to a comprehensive, community-driven approach to combating malnutrition. By addressing both immediate nutritional needs and underlying social factors, the program aims to create sustainable improvements in the health and well-being of Caraga’s children. With the 2025 initiatives, the SFP is poised to make a significant and lasting difference in the region. (DSWD Caraga/PIA-Caraga)

Posted by at