LAKASS PROGRAM (AKSYON PARA SA NUTRISYON)

 

The LAKASS (Lalakas ang Katawang Sapat sa Sustansya) Program was launched by the NNC Governing Board in 1989 as a strategy to alleviate proverty and malnutrition in the most depressed areas of the country.

A system to identifying the most nutritionally depressed areas of the country was designed using audited municipal income and malnutrition prevalence.

A total of 214 nutritionally depressed municipalities (NDMs) and 476 barangays are covered nationwide. Within the NDM, at least two (2) most nutritionally depressed barangays are targetted for assistance. Within these barangays, families with malnourished preschoolers are given priority.

A total of P68.88 M has been provided for the implementation of LAKASS program to date, of which 57% (or a total of P35.65 M) were provided as grants to NDMs.

An average of P250,000.00 was provided per NDM to complement local resources for projects deemed by the community to be responsive to their needs. In each NDM, 80% went to livelihood assistance while 20% was used for direct nutrition intervention or consumption-type activities such as feeding.

The LAKASS Program adopted a "roll over" or repayment scheme in the utilization of funds for livelihood projects to ensure sustanability. Although treated as a grant to the municipality/city government, the financial assistance is introduced to the beneficiaries as a loan which needs to be repaid to discourage the dole out mentality and promote self reliance and self management.

 

 

For further information:

Ms. Maria Vicenta Magpantay
Officer-In-Charge, Nutrition Policy and Planning Division
8435832