The National Institute of Student Welfare (Inabie) and the local office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have applauded the unanimous approval of the School Feeding and Nutrition Bill by the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, 24 July 2024, a day before the close of the legislature.
This initiative, spearheaded by the Congressional Front Against Hunger, Inabie, and FAO, had been submitted to the National Congress by Deputy Soraya Suárez (PRM-Santiago) in March 2024. This is the first time, Congress accepts to rule against junk food, including the sale of sugary drinks in schools.
The bill was approved in its second reading with 100% of the deputies present casting a favorable vote. The bill now passes to the Senate, where it can be heard in the next legislature that resumes its work on 16 August 2024.
“We welcome the decision of the Chamber of Deputies and urge the Senate to adopt this bill, which aims to ensure that school feeding becomes a state policy and not merely dependent on the will of a particular government,” said Víctor Castro, executive director of Inabie.
Rodrigo Castañeda, FAO representative in the country, emphasized that “the School Feeding Program is crucial to ensure that children receive the nutrients they need for their development and well-being.”
The bill, which consists of 105 articles and six chapters, aims to provide the Dominican Republic with a law that guarantees the rights of students in the public and private education systems in terms of food and nutrition.
The bill orders on-site food preparation, free access to potable water, and bans the sale of junk food in school cafeterias.
This legislation is the result of extensive collaborative work involving representatives from Inabie, FAO, the Parliamentary Front Against Hunger, the Center for Research and Social Promotion (Cipros), and other entities. It also incorporates input from over 20 key stakeholders in the areas of agriculture, health, education, nutrition, procurement, and contract management, as well as civil society leaders.
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Inabie
Z101 Digital
29 July 2024