DepEd’s noodle feeding program faces review

Posted April 30, 2009 23:33:00

Philip Tubeza

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said on Thursday he would be willing to order a review of the Department of Education’s school feeding program over allegations that the noodles being given to students were overpriced and not nutritious enough.

But Lapus said that as of Thursday, the Senate was still conducting hearings on the allegations made by Kolonwel Trading against the feeding program to which DepEd officials have been called.

“There is still another hearing. Let us wait for that [to finish] but we are prepared for a review if that is needed,” Lapus said.

DepEd Undersecretary Ted Sangil said the feeding program should be continued as it would benefit “almost 400,000 students” in 13 provinces with serious nutritional problems.

“Almost 400,000 [students] are waiting for it. Should we postpone it just because somebody made an allegation? Isn't that unfair to the pupils?” Sangil said.

“In the first place, [the complainant] is not a bidder and the complaint was not made in the prescribed form. The allegations were not made under oath. It was only in a letter but they [the senators] picked it up,” he added.

BACK TO TOP