THE MANILA City government has expanded its milk feeding initiative with the launch of YorMilk 2.0, increasing the number of beneficiaries from 21,000 to 60,000 students in a bid to combat child malnutrition and stunting.

The program was launched at Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School in Sampaloc.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said the expanded initiative is the city’s direct response to the country’s persistent malnutrition and stunting problem, citing Department of Health data showing high rates of stunting nationwide, including among children in Manila.

“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.

Moreno said the program ensures the continuity of milk supplementation as children progress from daycare to kindergarten and eventually to Grade 1. He added that the city sources the milk directly from local dairy farmers, allowing the program to improve children’s nutrition while supporting farmers’ livelihoods.

National Dairy Authority (NDA) Administrator Atty. Marcus Antonius T. Andaya said the increase in beneficiaries demonstrates how the city has built on the success of the original YorMilk program.

“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 said.

Andaya also recalled benefiting from a similar milk feeding program when he was in Grade 3, saying it left a lasting impression that he still shares with his grandchild.

The NDA chief said the program has also become a lifeline for local dairy farmers, who previously struggled to find buyers for their milk after government feeding programs ended. He recalled that Moreno had personally committed to purchasing the farmers’ milk and distributing it to schoolchildren in Manila.

“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.

Praising Moreno’s support for the agriculture sector, Andaya said:

“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.”