This will help solve malnutrition in the country.
In the expanded School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) of the Department of Education (DepEd), an estimated 4.6 million learners will benefit according to the the agency.
This will be made possible by the P25.7 billion allocation it got under the historic P1.015 trillion budget of the agency in 2026.
According to the breakdown provided by the department, 1.52 million kindergarten learners and 1.79 million Grade 1 learners can be provided with meals for 200 school days.
In addition, 1.18 million wasted or severly wasted students from Grades 2 to 6 will also be included in the expanded program.
140,000 nutritionally at-risk, disadvantaged, or vulnerable learners from beyond Grade 6—including pregnant learners enrolled in public schools—will be given nutritional support for 180 feeding days.
“Malinaw po sa datos na hindi makakapag-aral nang maayos ang bata kung gutom siya. Kaya pinalalawak natin ang School-Based Feeding Program para mas maraming mag-aaral ang mabigyan ng sapat na nutrisyon, lalo na sa mga unang baitang at sa mga pinaka-nangangailangan,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
He added, “Higit sa pagbibigay ng pagkain, layunin ng programa na matulungan ang mga bata na manatili sa paaralan at maging handa sa pagkatuto araw-araw.”
To better identify the beneficiaries of the program, DepEd will launch thebSystem for Intelligent Growth and Learner Anthropometry (SIGLA), which is an Artificial Intelligence-enabled platform that would quicken the verification of data regarding the health and nutrition of students.
This will be done in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Local government units (LGUs) will serve as implementing partners through memoranda of agreement, with DepEd looking to have closer coordination for the actual implementation of yhe program in schools and communities.
With DepEd’s adherence to the recently-enacted Tatak Pinoy Act (Republic Act No. 11981), the food and drinks will be sourced from local producers to ensure its freshness and the appropriateness in the local setting.
The milk feeding part will be managed by the National Dairy Authority and the Philippine Carabao Center.
