DepEd launches expanded School-Based Feeding Program for public kindergarten and 'severely wasted' Grades 1-6 students

The Department of Education (DepEd) launched an expanded School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) on Monday, providing daily nutritious meals to all public kindergarten students and 'severely wasted' Grades 1 to 6 learners across the Philippines.

With a PHP 14 billion budget proposed for 2026, the program aims to support cognitive development and classroom readiness from an early age, reducing severely wasted kindergarten pupils by 80 percent last year.

DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo 'Sonny' Angara emphasized that adequate nutrition improves children's learning ability and stressed the importance of immediate action rather than waiting for them to suffer from hunger or illness.

Teachers reported improved student alertness and engagement after the program, highlighting the need for coordinated investments in instruction, health services, parenting support, and school readiness to maintain these improvements.

The Department of Health (DOH) emphasized the importance of nutrition literacy among students to promote healthy eating habits, supporting the DepEd's initiative with a PHP 21.8 million budget for the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program in 2025.