Masbate city: The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to roll out its PHP25.6-billion School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) for the school year 2026-2027, aimed at addressing hunger among 4.63 million learners across the nation. This initiative marks a significant commitment to improving student health and educational outcomes.
According to Philippines News Agency, the nationwide scale-up was highlighted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara's recent visit to Jose Zurbito Sr. Elementary School in Masbate City, where they provided nutritious meals to learners. The DepEd is also planning to expand the program into urban areas, with an upcoming event at Batasan Hills National High School in Quezon City, featuring feeding activities, a Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair for Senior High School graduates, and a lecture on energy conservation.
The PHP25.6 billion allocation for the SBFP represents a substantial increase from the PHP11.8 billion designated in 2025. This funding aims to sustain children for 200 feeding days, up from the previous 120-day cycle, and to reach a larger student population compared to the 3.39 million students assisted last year.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that the program is not solely focused on nutrition but also on restoring the dignity and academic potential of Filipino children. He stated, "We are fulfilling President Bongbong Marcos' directive to end the cycle of malnutrition in our schools by giving our learners the health to reach their goals."
The SBFP's comprehensive approach includes targeting universal feeding for Kindergarten to Grade 1 learners, undernourished Grades 2 to 6 learners, pregnant adolescent learners, and vulnerable and marginalized learners beyond Grade 6. By extending feeding to 200 days, the Marcos administration aims to integrate nutrition into the basic education framework, ensuring long-term learning readiness and moving beyond short-term relief.
