The Philippine government has launched the expansion of the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) in an effort to combat rising stunting rates among children nationwide.
According to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the revamped program will provide nutritious meals, including hot meals and milk, to all kindergarten and Grade 1 students, regardless of their nutritional status. Severely wasted and wasted students in Grades 2 through 6 will also receive nutritional support.
The President emphasized that the program aims to address the root cause of poor academic performance, saying, "We know that one reason young people are sometimes unable to study well is because they do not have enough to eat."
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara noted that the expansion marks a historical first for the feeding program, with the government committing to provide assistance and food to students throughout the entire school year.
Data from the Department of Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute showed that the stunting rate among children under five has reached 25.3%, with significant percentages of school-age children also affected.
The Department of Education has allocated P25.6 billion for SBFP in School Year 2026-2027, up from P11.8 billion in the previous year, and is expected to benefit 4.63 million learners nationwide.
