Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso launched “YorMilk 2.0: Kaagapay ng Batang Maynila sa Paglaki” at Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School in Sampaloc, expanding the city government’s milk feeding program from over 21,000 beneficiaries in its first run to 60,000 students.
Domagoso said the program is a direct response to the country’s malnutrition and stunting problem, citing Department of Health data showing high stunting rates nationwide that include children in Manila.
“Huwag nang ikubli, huwag nang itanggi.”
“Hindi na pwedeng itanggi at ikubli ang katatayuan ng ating bansa patungkol sa malnutrisyon. Huwag nang ikubli, huwag nang itanggi. Harapin natin, labanan natin,” the mayor said.
He said the program ensures continuity of milk supplementation as children move from daycare to kindergarten and into Grade 1, with the city sourcing milk directly from local dairy farmers to support their livelihood alongside the nutrition program for children.
National Dairy Authority (NDA) Administrator Atty. Marcus Antonius Andaya said the program’s growth from 21,000 to 60,000 student beneficiaries reflects how the city has built on the success of the first YorMilk program.
“Tumaas na ng 60,000 ang makakatanggap nitong milk feeding program sa ating mga bata.”
“Nung YorMilk 1 po, nakadalo din po kami. Nakita namin kung gaano ka-successful ang YorMilk 1 with 21,000 student beneficiaries. Ngayon, tumaas na ng 60,000 ang makakatanggap nitong milk feeding program sa ating mga bata,” Andaya explained.
He also recalled personally benefiting from a similar milk feeding program as a Grade 3 student, an experience he said he continues to recount to his grandchild.
The NDA chief said the program has been a lifeline for local dairy farmers, who previously had no buyer for their milk once government feeding programs ended, recalling that the Domagoso had personally committed to purchasing milk from farmers and distributing it to Manila’s schoolchildren.
“Kung itatapon niyo lang din ang gatas, dalhin niyo sa Maynila, bibilhin ko, ipaiinom ko sa batang Maynila,” Andaya quoted the Mayor as saying, adding that the commitment has since been fulfilled through the program.
“Hindi ka man farmer, city boy ka, hindi man sila ang direktang nakinabang sa pagbili ng gatas na ‘to, subalit sa nakikita nila, nakita nila sa’yo, may puso ka para sa magsasaka,” Andaya concluded.
