CEBU CITY: A total of 11,787 daycare centers across three Visayan regions will become feeding centers for children aged 2 to 4, providing hot meals under a government program, according to a social welfare official on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7), the initiative targets 405,051 children from 353 local government units in Central, Western, and Eastern Visayas. The project, part of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), aims to alleviate hunger by delivering meals to young children enrolled in daycare centers or supervised playgroups for a period of 120 days.

Lucero detailed that 37.19% of the children benefitting from the program are in Central Visayas, totaling 150,637 participants. Western Visayas accounts for the majority of the beneficiaries with 193,922 children, while Eastern Visayas has 60,492 children.

The recently established Negros Island Region will also see 121,582 children from Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor joining the program. The SFP contributes to the government’s early childhood care and development initiatives, as mandated by Republic Act No. 11037, or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act.