Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino today said that the $35,000 spent for grandiose US dinners by Arroyo and her entourage could have been better used to subsidize students under the Department of Education’s feeding program.

Palatino said that the DepEd spends an average of a measly P21 per meal for every student.

“Let’s do the math. Based on DepEd’s budget allocation, Arroyo’s lavish feasts alone could have fed 80,000 students.”

Palatino also pointed out that while P21 per meal for every student may already appear insufficient, the DepEd spends a lot less for students in the provinces.

In Negros, for instance, a school’s feeding program consisting of rice, mongo, dilis and sardines are only worth P4.50 for each student.

“No wonder 17 to 21 percent of pupils are undernourished or lack sufficient quantity or quality of nourishment to sustain proper growth and development,” Palatino said, citing Department of Health data.

“Unfortunately, ang mga busog na busog ay iyong mga matagal nang bundat at malulusog,” Palatino said. ###