Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines president and Quirino governor Dax Cua expressed his hope that the substantial allocation for the Department of Education’s School-Based Feeding Program would make headway in addressing nutrition issues among learners next year.
“With the 2026 budget for the school-based feeding program more than double this year’s allocation, I hope that we can make significant progress in addressing malnutrition among young Filipino learners,” Cua said.
The feeding program was given P28.6 billion for next year in the budget approved by the Senate on Tuesday. This is a big jump from the 2025 allocation of P11.78 billion.
“Next year’s funding for the feeding program will mean that more and more of our schoolchildren are guaranteed a hot and nutritious meal and other fortified food products to power them through a whole year of learning.”
Around 4.8 million learners are expected to benefit from the program, which will run for the entire 200-day duration of the next school year.
Covered under the program are kindergarten and grade 1 learners, while wasted and severely wasted learners from grades 2 to 6 would also be given support.
Cua underscored the impact that the feeding program could have in resolving the country’s ongoing education crisis.
“Hunger and malnutrition are great barriers to literacy. Next year’s funding for the feeding program will mean that more and more of our schoolchildren are guaranteed a hot and nutritious meal and other fortified food products to power them through a whole year of learning,” said the governor.
He also expressed hope that the DepEd would commit to procuring their food products from local farmers.
“In doing so, we help not only our learners, but also our farmers who are in dire need of support as well,” said Cua.
