President Rodrigo Duterte's national feeding program for undernourished children will be implemented starting next year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said Wednesday.

Duterte last month signed Republic Act 11037 or the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act,” which institutionalizes the feeding program in public day care, kindergarten and elementary schools. The campaign will be led by the education and social welfare departments.

"Next year po [ang implementation]... Wala pa po itong budget," said DSWD Secretary Virginia Orogo, adding that funds for the program will be drawn from her agency's 2019 budget.

(Its implementation will start next year. It has no budget yet.)

Under the program, beneficiaries will receive one fortified meal for a period of not less than 120 days in a year.

The law also creates the National Nutrition Information System, which used in monitoring the health of all Filipino children, especially those covered by the program.

DZMM, 4 July 2018