The Quezon City government has intensified its nutrition program for 14,000 schoolchildren in the city’s poor communities as P10.42 million was set aside for the feeding project.

The scheme was undertaken as local and international health authorities disclosed the direct correlation of low mental performance and poor physical health conditions explaining the sub-par academic records of malnourished children.

In rare exceptions, poorly fed schoolchildren gave worthy performances or at times excel academically but their records still pale in comparison and could have done better with proper nutrition.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. recognized the urgency of having a year-round well-managed moneyfeeding program saying the scheme is a key “to make our young children more fit for learning.’’

He added that it is imperative for the children in the city to avail of good nutrition to enable them to benefit more fully in the city’s investments in human development preparing them more than fit to handle future challenges with confidence.

Belmonte said that health and wellness expert Cory Quirino, granddaughter of former Philippine president Elpidio Quirino, has helped Julie’s Bakeshop in preparing and developing nutria-bread for the consumption of the underweight schoolchildren.

Julie’s Bakeshop, partner of the city government in the “Strong and Bright Kids’’ feeding program for the schoolchildren, has made vitamin-enriched bread made out of coco flour that will be served in the public elementary schools twice a day every recess time for three months.

Belmonte and Dr. Jose Enrico Gandioco recently sealed the deal in implementing the program benefiting grade one pupils in the public elementary schools.