
DepEd expands feeding program to all kindergarten learners
The program was formally launched Monday at Juan Sumulong Elementary School in Antipolo City, where education officials outlined the expansion as part of a broader national strategy focused on health, learning, and child development.
With a budget of ?11.77 billion for 2025 and a proposed ?14 billion for 2026, the expanded SBFP aims to provide daily hot meals and fortified food products to approximately 3.4 million learners—including all kindergarten pupils and undernourished children in Grades 1 to 6.
'To be implemented over 120 school days, this year's feeding program is no longer limited to severely wasted or underweight students,' DepEd said in a statement.
'Instead, it now covers all kindergarten learners to support cognitive development and classroom readiness from an early age.'
DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo 'Sonny' Angara emphasized the role of nutrition in education outcomes during the launch.
'Kapag may sapat na nutrisyon ang mga bata, mas madali silang matuto. Hindi natin kailangan hintayin pang magutom o magkasakit sila bago kumilos,' he said.
(When children have adequate nutrition, they learn more easily. We don't need to wait for them to go hungry or get sick before we act.)
'Support'
According to DepEd, last year's program led to a notable decrease in the number of severely wasted kindergarten learners, which dropped from 113,451 to 47,281. Educators have also reported improvements in student alertness, participation, and overall health.
In regions such as Cagayan Valley (Region II) and Davao (Region XI), local data showed that cases of severely undernourished kindergarten children fell by up to 80 percent following implementation of the feeding program.
The agency also cited growing infrastructure supporting the initiative, with 74 central kitchens now operational and over 44,000 public schools participating in the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program—school gardens that help provide fresh vegetables while also promoting nutrition education.
The program is being carried out in coordination with local government units, the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and civil society partners. Officials stressed that success depends not only on food provision but also on sustained support for children's health, instruction, and home environments.
'Sama-samang gawain ito. Gobyerno ang nangunguna, pero kailangan ang suporta ng buong komunidad,' Angara added.
(This is a shared effort. The government is leading, but support from the whole community is essential.)
Future plans for the SBFP include improving health monitoring, refining meal quality, and expanding coverage to additional grade levels, particularly Grades 1 to 3, where nutritional gaps continue to affect learning outcomes. DepEd is also exploring increased partnerships with local farmers through homegrown school feeding models.
The initiative is part of the administration's broader goals to invest in human capital development by addressing malnutrition early in life—an approach aligned with long-term efforts to improve learning outcomes and reduce inequality. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


GMA Network
5 days ago
- GMA Network
DepEd expands feeding program to all kindergarten learners
All public kindergarten students across the Philippines will now receive daily nutritious meals under the Department of Education's (DepEd) expanded School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP). The program was formally launched Monday at Juan Sumulong Elementary School in Antipolo City, where education officials outlined the expansion as part of a broader national strategy focused on health, learning, and child development. With a budget of ?11.77 billion for 2025 and a proposed ?14 billion for 2026, the expanded SBFP aims to provide daily hot meals and fortified food products to approximately 3.4 million learners—including all kindergarten pupils and undernourished children in Grades 1 to 6. 'To be implemented over 120 school days, this year's feeding program is no longer limited to severely wasted or underweight students,' DepEd said in a statement. 'Instead, it now covers all kindergarten learners to support cognitive development and classroom readiness from an early age.' DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo 'Sonny' Angara emphasized the role of nutrition in education outcomes during the launch. 'Kapag may sapat na nutrisyon ang mga bata, mas madali silang matuto. Hindi natin kailangan hintayin pang magutom o magkasakit sila bago kumilos,' he said. (When children have adequate nutrition, they learn more easily. We don't need to wait for them to go hungry or get sick before we act.) 'Support' According to DepEd, last year's program led to a notable decrease in the number of severely wasted kindergarten learners, which dropped from 113,451 to 47,281. Educators have also reported improvements in student alertness, participation, and overall health. In regions such as Cagayan Valley (Region II) and Davao (Region XI), local data showed that cases of severely undernourished kindergarten children fell by up to 80 percent following implementation of the feeding program. The agency also cited growing infrastructure supporting the initiative, with 74 central kitchens now operational and over 44,000 public schools participating in the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program—school gardens that help provide fresh vegetables while also promoting nutrition education. The program is being carried out in coordination with local government units, the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and civil society partners. Officials stressed that success depends not only on food provision but also on sustained support for children's health, instruction, and home environments. 'Sama-samang gawain ito. Gobyerno ang nangunguna, pero kailangan ang suporta ng buong komunidad,' Angara added. (This is a shared effort. The government is leading, but support from the whole community is essential.) Future plans for the SBFP include improving health monitoring, refining meal quality, and expanding coverage to additional grade levels, particularly Grades 1 to 3, where nutritional gaps continue to affect learning outcomes. DepEd is also exploring increased partnerships with local farmers through homegrown school feeding models. The initiative is part of the administration's broader goals to invest in human capital development by addressing malnutrition early in life—an approach aligned with long-term efforts to improve learning outcomes and reduce inequality. —VAL, GMA Integrated News


GMA Network
08-07-2025
- GMA Network
DepEd, DOH expand healthy learning program to 1,500 public schools
More than 1,500 public schools across the Philippines are now implementing health-promoting policies and practices under the Department of Education's (DepEd) Healthy Learning Institutions (HLI) program—a nationwide initiative in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and other stakeholders to make schools safer, healthier, and more inclusive for learners. The HLI initiative, launched in 2022, supports schools in improving sanitation facilities, strengthening nutrition and mental health services, and enhancing learner well-being. Backed by a joint administrative order signed by seven agencies, including DepEd, DOH, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Legal Education Board (LEB), the program brings to life the Universal Health Care Act's vision of schools as healthy settings for children and adolescents. A major focus of the initiative has been on so-called 'Last Mile Schools,' or institutions in geographically isolated or underserved communities. According to the education department, over 1,300 of the participating schools fall under this category, receiving direct support for improvements ranging from hygiene facilities to health training. One such school is Taguiporo Elementary School in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. Previously struggling with poor sanitation and limited services, it has since been recognized as one of the 38 Outstanding Last Mile Schools after receiving a P100,000 grant. The funds were used to build gender-sensitive, PWD-accessible toilets; expand feeding and dental programs; and start a backyard garden that now feeds students and their families. The HLI program is structured around six pillars of school health and well-being, assessed using a self-appraisal system. In 2024, DepEd launched a three-tier recognition framework certifying schools as Satisfactory, Very Satisfactory, or Outstanding based on compliance with health standards developed with WHO guidance and local policy. To further strengthen implementation, national onboarding sessions for school heads and health officers are scheduled for July 14–15. DepEd is also rolling out a School Self-Appraisal Checklist and a shared 'Map of Materials' to support health promotion in campuses. Although the program is currently operating under interim guidelines, DepEd is preparing a department order to institutionalize the HLI framework. This upcoming policy will embed the star-rating system into the agency's Learner Support Framework and make health promotion a sustained part of school operations. 'Hindi lang dapat ligtas sa sakuna ang paaralan. Dapat ligtas din sa gutom, sa sakit, at sa kawalan ng suporta,' said Education Secretary Sonny Angara. (Schools should not only be safe from disasters but also free from hunger, illness, and lack of support.) —VBL, GMA Integrated News


GMA Network
02-07-2025
- GMA Network
DepEd reports 'improved reading' after providing food aid in summer program
The Department of Education (DepEd) reported improved reading outcomes among early grade learners who participated in its 2025 summer programs, which included "feeding interventions." In a summary report, DepEd said that food assistance—including snacks, hot meals, and other small incentives—was implemented during the Bawat Bata Makababasa Program (BBMP) and National Learning Camp (NLC) to help maintain learner focus and encourage consistent attendance. 'Ang pagkain ay hindi lang insentibo, ito ay pundasyon ng pagkatuto. Kapag may lakas ang katawan, mas handa ang bata sa pagbabasa, pakikinig, at pag-unawa,' said Education Secretary Sonny Angara. (Food is not just an incentive, it is the foundation of learning. When the body is nourished, the child is better prepared to read, listen, and understand.) The BBMP, which focuses on foundational reading skills in the early grades, recorded an average attendance rate of 80.83% from more than 70,000 learners over five weeks. Schools that implemented feeding and reward systems reported increased participation, fewer absences, and higher learner engagement. Post-program assessments showed a 32.85% improvement in Grade 3 learners reading at grade level in Filipino and 26.04% in English, with a notable decline in the number of 'low emerging' readers. Meanwhile, the National Learning Camp, a 15-day remedial and enrichment program for reading and math, reached over 1.13 million learners across 157 school divisions. All participants received food support during the camp, which DepEd said helped stabilize attendance and support learners' readiness to engage in lessons. Reports from regional offices indicated that food distribution efforts were carried out in various forms, including in-school meals, take-home food packs, and support from local government units. Some LGUs also assisted in logistics, while schools integrated feeding into daily class routines. DepEd also noted the involvement of private sector partners, including companies, foundations, and civic groups, that contributed snacks, hygiene kits, and educational materials to support the programs. The department said these efforts align with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s broader push for learning recovery and child nutrition. 'Sa bawat batang natutong bumasa dahil busog ang tiyan at buo ang suporta, doon natin tunay na makikita ang saysay ng edukasyon, may malasakit at may pagkalinga,' Angara said. (In every child who learns to read with a full stomach and strong support, we see the true value of education—one with compassion and care.) While the programs yielded encouraging results, DepEd said further evaluation and sustained support will be needed to address long-term learning gaps, especially among early grade learners. —VAL, GMA Integrated News