DepEd launches expanded 120-day school feeding program

MANILA, Philippines — To address early malnutrition and learning gaps, the Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday launched the Expanded School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) for all public kindergarten learners.

The program, unveiled at Juan Sumulong Elementary School in Antipolo, Rizal, will run for 120 days. This is double the 60-day feeding program implemented during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“If the children receive sufficient nutrition, it would be easier for them to learn. We do not need to wait for them to go hungry or become sick before we act,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said. “We are investing not only in education, but in lifelong health, productivity and equity.”

The Marcos administration has allocated P11.77 billion for 2025, with a proposed P14 billion for 2026 to combat early childhood malnutrition.

The expanded SBFP now includes all kindergarten learners, not just undernourished ones, in line with a shift toward universal early nutrition.

For the first time, DepEd is providing hot meals and fortified food products to around 3.4 million kindergarten pupils and “severely wasted” and “wasted” Grade 1 to 6 students.

Since last school year, the number of severely wasted kindergarten children has dropped by more than half – from 113,451 to 47,281.

DepEd also noted improvements in energy levels, class participation, weight gain and overall health. Teachers and principals report that learners in the program come to school more alert, more engaged and more ready to learn.

In Regions II (Cagayan Valley) and XI (Davao), cases of severely undernourished kindergarten learners declined by about 80 percent following the feeding program.

To support this growth, the SBFP’s infrastructure has expanded. More than 74 central kitchens are now operational, allowing efficient food preparation and distribution to thousands of schools.

Meanwhile, more than 44,000 schools are participating in the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program, which supplies fresh vegetables for school meals and offers hands-on nutrition education.