Busog at Ready? DepEd Rolls Out Biggest School Feeding Push Yet

The Department of Education is kicking off what it calls its most ambitious school feeding program so far, backed by a record P25.6 billion budget for school year 2026 to 2027. Malaking jump ito from previous years, and the government says the goal is to help millions of learners stay healthy enough to actually learn well.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara formally launched the program during a visit to Jose Zurbito Sr. Elementary School in Masbate City. DepEd is also bringing related services closer to urban communities through a multiservice school engagement in Quezon City.

Under the expanded School-based Feeding Program, universal feeding will cover kindergarten to Grade 1 learners, while undernourished pupils in Grades 2 to 6, pregnant adolescent learners, and other vulnerable or marginalized students beyond Grade 6 are also included. DepEd said the larger budget aims to reach 4.63 million learners starting this June.

Angara said the program is not just about nutrition but also about restoring dignity and academic potential for Filipino children. Teachers, according to DepEd, have already observed that regular meals help improve attendance and classroom engagement, which gives the program a direct link to learning outcomes.

The numbers show how quickly the program has grown. From shorter feeding periods and smaller budgets in past years, the plan now expands to 200 feeding days, signaling a shift from short-term relief to a deeper, long-term nutrition strategy inside the education system. Kung tuloy-tuloy ito, this could become one of the administration's biggest school support programs.

Source: https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/03/25/news/national/deped-launches-ambitious-school-feeding-program/2306725