Manila, Sept. 17 -- A total of 192,509 learners in the Ilocos Region are beneficiaries of the school-based feeding program this school year.

Of the total number, 128,241 are in Pangasinan, 17,992 in Ilocos Norte, 20,628 in Ilocos Sur and 25,648 in La Union, based on data from the Department of Education (DepEd).

The beneficiaries are all enrolled Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners and wasted and severely wasted Grades 2 to 6 learners.

DepEd Undersecretary Fatima Lipp Panontongan, in an interview on Thursday, said proper nutrition is important for a learner.

"This is very important for the attendance of the children. So, if the children are not healthy, they will drop out. And their retention span while they are in the classroom is affe...