SENATOR Grace Poe has emphasized the need for continued government support for child nutrition programs, calling on candidates in the upcoming May 2025 elections to prioritize efforts against malnutrition and stunting.

Poe underscored the importance of Republic Act No. 11037 or the “Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act,” which she authored.

The law institutionalized government feeding initiatives such as the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) and the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), implemented by the Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, respectively.

Under the SBFP from School Year 2018–2019 to 2023–2024, hot meals and nutritional food products were distributed to 16,088,184 learners, while 12,139,770 learners received fresh milk. For School Year 2024–2025, the program continues to serve over 2.2 million students with hot meals and nearly the same number with milk.

The SBFP is allocated P11.7 billion in the 2025 national budget, an increase of P65.7 million from the previous year.

Budget provisions have been added to reduce administrative costs and direct more resources to meal distribution.

Meanwhile, the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, reached 9,558,636 children between 2020 and 2024 in LGU-run child development centers and community-based play programs. In School Year 2023–2024, the SFP served 1,846,902 children, contributing to a 75% reduction in the number of severely underweight and underweight children—from 170,135 down to 42,447.

Poe noted that while these results are encouraging, the programs must continue uninterrupted to maintain progress.

“For our children to reach their full potential and be productive, we need to provide them with the very basic need, which is food,” she said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Camille P. Balagtas