THE Department of Education is set to launch today, Monday, the Expanded School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) as part of the government’s efforts to address malnutrition and learning gaps among learners.
The Juan Sumulong Elementary School in Antipolo City was chosen as the site for the launch.
“The SBFP expansion follows the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen the fight against child hunger and invest in long-term human development,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.
Under the expanded SBFP, all public Kindergarten learners nationwide will receive daily nutritious meals for at least 120 days.
Angara said the expansion marks a shift toward universal early nutrition, beyond the previous focus on undernourished children only.
Funding for the school-based feeding program this year stands at P11.78 billion.
Last year, P11 billion was allocated to the school feeding program, more than double from the 2023 funding of P5.6 billion.
Early this month, the DepEd reported an improved reading outcome among early grade learners who participated in this year’s summer reading programs, which included “feeding” interventions.
In a report summarizing the outcomes of its summer programs, DepEd noted that feeding interventions, such as snacks and small incentives, played a critical role in sustaining attendance and learner focus, particularly in the Bawat Bata Makababasa Program and National Learning Camp.
Angara said all participating learners were provided with hot meals and nutritious food products throughout the program, helping ensure consistent attendance and cognitive readiness during the sessions.
A study conducted by the Second Congressional Commission (EDCOM 2) showed that malnourished children in the country are two to three years behind their curriculum expectations by the time they reach third grade.
Data from the Department of Science and Technology’s Food Nutrition Research Institute last year revealed that undernutrition remains a serious problem among Filipino children aged 5 to 10.
The DOST-FNRI data showed that 2.7 million Filipino children, or one in five, suffer from stunting, while another 2.8 million children are underweight.
