GABRIELA Women Party Rep. Arlene Brosas strongly criticized the Department of Education for its management of the P5.69 billion School-Based Feeding Program.

The program, meant to combat malnutrition and provide nourishment, accordingly delivered expired and pest-infested nutribuns to schools in 2023, posing serious health risks to children.

“Saan ka nakakita ng feeding program pero panis ang ipinamimigay? Mumo na nga lang ang budget sa edukasyon, tira-tira pa ang ipapakain sa mga bata,” Brosas declared.

“Tinrato ni VP Sara Duterte na parang busabos ang mga kabataan. Imbes na aksiyunan ang mga report, pinabayaan na lang na maipamahagi ‘yung mga sirang pagkain masabi lang na nakapag-feeding program ito,” she said.

The Commission on Audit’s findings paint a disturbing picture across 21 school divisions in 10 regions, where children were served moldy, insect-infested bread, alongside late deliveries and dubious food manufacturing practices.

Beyond the audit report from COA, Brosas demanded that the Department of Budget and Management and the Government Procurement Policy Board release the procurement and liquidation reports of DepEd’s feeding program.

“This issue not only highlights administrative lapses but also underscores a grave injustice against children, who are left vulnerable to malnutrition and its detrimental impacts on their growth and development,” Brosas said.

“We demand accountability from Vice President Sara Duterte and an overhaul of the procurement and delivery processes,” she added.

Gabriela Women’s Party called for an immediate corrective measures and a thorough, transparent investigation into these failures.

“We must ensure that every peso allocated for nutrition reaches our students in the form of safe, nutritious meals. Kailangan ng agarang imbestigasyon hinggil dito,” Brosas stressed.