MILK feeding program in some public schools in Negros Occidental will be suspended in the aftermath of the alleged food poisoning incident last month.

DepEd-7 director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez said the move would only be temporary as the department awaits the results of laboratory tests taken on samples of the contaminated milk distributed in Sta. Catalina town.

“I have directed the Negros Oriental DepEd division superintendent to suspend the feeding program only in the schools in the south, whose supplier of milk is the same source of the supposed contaminated milk in question,” Jimenez said.

“Another supplier is providing the milk requirements for public schools in the north of the province, thus the feeding program will continue,” he added.

Based on report, several students in Barangay Nagbinlod and Barangay Alangilan were rushed to the Bayawan City District Hospital after vomiting caused by the contaminated milk distributed under the school-based feeding program of DepEd.

Negros Oriental Schools Division Superintendent Senen Paulin earlier said 42 students were admitted to the hospital after showing signs of dehydration, while 25 students had mild symptoms of gastrointestinal illness.

She added 36 were immediately discharged after receiving treatment.

DepEd earlier said it already coordinated with the local government unit of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, the National Dairy Authority, and concerned agencies for the analysis of milk samples and the investigation of the incident.

It noted it will look into possible actions against those who will be proven to be responsible for the incident.

The SBFP is one of its priority initiatives which aims to address hunger among learners and encourage them to enroll.

The program also intends to contribute to the improvement of the learners’ nutritional status, in accordance with Republic Act No. 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act.