NEWS RELEASE|| 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗼𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀

July 10, 2026

BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte — 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗗), 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗼𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀, 𝗜𝗻𝗰. (𝗖𝗢𝗛𝗣), 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗻-𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗲-𝗦𝗼𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹, 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Hosted by Libertad National High School under the leadership of School Principal Mrs. Rachel Rendon with the full support of Butuan City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Minerva T. Albis, the activity gathered School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) regional and division focal persons, school heads, and DepEd shool personnel from across the region to strengthen collaboration and expand nutrition interventions for learners.

The program formally commenced with the statement of purpose delivered by Ms. Rena Grace Tul-id, Nutritionist-Dietitian II of DepEd Caraga, emphasizing the importance of sustainable partnerships in addressing child nutrition and food security. This was followed by a welcome message from Libertad National High School Principal, Mrs. Rachel Rendon.

In his message, Education Support Services Division (ESSD) Chief Edmund D. Mendoza, PhD, underscored the significance of nutrition programs in promoting learners’ health, academic performance, and overall well-being. The opening program concluded with an inspirational message from Schools Governance and Operations Division (SGOD) Chief Luisito G. Pero, PhD.

The orientation proper was facilitated by COHP Project Associates Mr. Jerryto A. Juab for Cebu Province and Mr. Lojun Cacho for Eastern Mindanao. The resource speakers presented the organization’s feeding initiatives and discussed the implementation guidelines of the Rice-Soy Products Feeding Program.

Participants were informed that the program caters to beneficiaries aged 2-14 years old, regardless of grade level. COHP also introduced its available food products, including Manna Pack Rice, rice-soy fortified meals, Now milk, soup mix, and macaroni. The organization likewise shared that it currently operates four hubs across the Philippines to ensure efficient distribution and program implementation. COHP highlighted that there is currently (1) participating school and (6) community feeding centers implementing the program in the Caraga Region.

The feeding program follows a five-day feeding schedule per week and offers schools a five-year partnership agreement, with participating schools given the flexibility to discontinue implementation if circumstances require. To support menu planning, COHP has prepared fifteen suggested menus while encouraging schools to develop and innovate recipes that suit the preferences of their learners.

Under the program,COHP will provide rice-soy products and other available food commodities, while participating schools shall shoulder the cost of additional ingredients necessary for meal preparation. Schools may also adopt strategies for organizing cooking volunteers, including engaging parents and community members, provided that the prescribed feeding schedule is maintained.

The activity concluded with an on-site cooking demonstration showcasing the preparation of rice-soy meals, allowing participants to gain firsthand experience in meal preparation and implementation strategies. Through this initiative, DepEd Caraga and Convoy of Hope Philippines reaffirm their commitment to combating hunger and malnutrition among Filipino learners and communities through strengthened partnerships and sustainable nutrition programs.

By: Melody Lou B. Villaplaza

TA II - SBFP

𝗘𝗡𝗗

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph

#SBFP2026 #DepEdPhilippines #MATATAG #SchoolBasedFeedingProgram #ConvoyofHopePhilippinesInc #COHP See more photos through this link