The City Government of Manila has become the first local government unit in the country to roll out a supplemental milk-feeding program for preschoolers using locally produced milk, a move the National Dairy Authority (NDA) said sets a national benchmark in linking child nutrition with supporting Filipino farmers.
The program, dubbed “Yormilk: Kaagapay ng Batang Maynila sa Paglaki,” was formally launched Monday, January 12, at Barangay 137 in Balut, Tondo, and will benefit 21,651 preschoolers aged 3 to 5 enrolled in 467 Child Development Centers (CDCs) across 436 barangays in Manila.
In a statement, NDA Administrator Atty. Marcus Antonius T. Andaya said Manila is the first city in the country to implement a citywide supplemental milk-feeding initiative for preschoolers using local dairy products, in partnership with the agency.
Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso said the program directly addresses the growing incidence of malnutrition and stunting among young children, even in the nation’s capital.
“Nalulungkot ako na sa Maynila mismo ay lumalaki ang numero ng pagkabansot o stunting—hindi dahil sa lahi, kundi dahil kulang tayo sa tamang nutrisyon,” Moreno said during the launch.
Under Yormilk, children will receive milk three times a week for 90 days, with the city committing to sustain and renew the program based on results. Moreno emphasized that the funding comes from public funds and should be used solely for the children’s nutrition.
“Itabi ninyo ‘yan para sa anak ninyo. ‘Yan ay pera nila galing sa taxpayer. Magpasalamat po tayo sa mga taxpayer,” he said.
The NDA administrator said Manila’s decision to source milk locally has had an immediate and lasting impact on Filipino dairy farmers, many of whom struggle with unstable demand.
“Sa Lungsod ng Maynila, hinding-hindi po makakalimutan ng mga magsasaka ang ginawa ninyo,” Andaya said in a statement. “Sa bawat baso ng gatas na iniinom ng batang Maynila, may isang pamilyang umaangat ang buhay, dahil alam nilang may tiyak na bumibili ng kanilang gatas: ang Lungsod ng Maynila.”
Andaya earlier noted that while government feeding programs typically run for only about 30 days, dairy cows produce milk for most of the year, often resulting in wasted supply and lost income for farmers when demand drops.
“Hindi pa tapos ang event, bumili na ng gatas ang City of Manila,” he said, citing the city’s swift decision to purchase milk directly from local producers.
Domagoso said Manila deliberately opted for locally produced milk over imported products to ensure freshness and safety while strengthening the domestic dairy industry.
“Mas minabuti ko na sariwa, ligtas, at maayos na gatas na produkto mismo ng ating mga magbabaka sa Pilipinas,” the Mayor said.
The Yormilk program is being implemented in coordination with the Department of Health, the NDA, and the Manila Department of Social Welfare, with 423 Child Development Workers serving as frontline partners in distribution and monitoring.
