Private and government institutions exhibit their own variety of nutribuns and other healthy and nutritious snacks during the launching of the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) of the Department of Education (DepEd) held at Esteban Abada Elementary School in Quezon City on January 24, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file

MANILA — Lawmakers described as “unacceptable” the reported delivery of expired food, nutribuns with mold or insects, unhygienic packaging, and the delayed or non-delivery of milk in some schools in 10 regions last year.

During the Department of Education’s (DepEd) budget briefing before the House Committee on Appropriations on Monday, BHW Party List Representative Angelica Natasha Co raised the Commission on Audit report flagging the lapses in DepEd’s P5.69-billion school-based feeding program in 2023.

ACT Teachers Party List Rep. France Castro called for an investigation into the matter, and for the blacklisting of erring suppliers.

“Hindi katanggap-tanggap na magde-deliver ng expired tapos ibabalik na lang. Hindi ‘yun magandang practice. At dapat maimbestigahan ito. Imagine 10 in 17 regions. So, malaki… Kailangan natin i-blacklisted ‘yun, o kailangan talaga natin ng report kaugnay diyan,” Castro said.

“’Pag gutom ang mag-aaral, hindi ‘yan makaka-concentrate at lesser chances na matuto ang isang mag-aaral. Kaya we really wanted to address the issue,” Co told the DepEd.

The DepEd explained that local supply of milk has been a challenge in implementing the program. It noted that nutribuns and other food reported spoiled will have to be replaced by the supplier at no additional cost to the government.

“‘Pag paulit-ulit na pumapalpak, pwede i-blacklist ‘yung supplier na ‘yun, and siguro maglagay ng damages provision din sa kontrata, para medyo matakot ang mga ito,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who assumed office just last month, said.

The DepEd also welcomed the suggestion of House Committee on Appropriations Senior Vice Chairperson Stella Quimbo to include a special provision in the General Appropriations Act that will allow substitutes for milk.

“A consideration that’s being explored right now by the agency would be to lean into other milk-related products that spoil at a slower pace like yogurt or any other milk-infused products. Although we have to ensure that these also are compliant with DOST standards as well as the capability of our suppliers to provide the goods,” Education Assistant Secretary Dexter Galban said.