All kindergarten and Grade 1 students in Philippine public schools will receive meals under the school-based feeding program for the first time in history, as the budget for the program more than doubled from ₱8 to 9 billion to ₱25 billion under the Marcos administration, Education Undersecretary Edson Byron Sy said Saturday.
Sy made the disclosure in an interview on DZRH News program Special on Saturday on August 1, as part of the DZRH SONA 2026 Series featuring the Department of Education (DepEd).
“Feeding program natin nag-increase from around 8 to 9 billion, now it’s at 25 billion. First time din po ‘yun. Universal Kinder, universal Grade 1 students lahat pakakainin,” Sy said.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the universal feeding program reflects President Marcos’ belief that a child cannot learn on an empty stomach, and that nutrition must be addressed before academic performance can improve.
He said the feeding program is one of the major budget allocations within DepEd’s historic ₱1.012 trillion budget, which itself is the first time the department’s annual allocation has exceeded ₱1 trillion.
Angara said the school feeding program has a direct impact on enrollment and attendance, as children who know they will receive a meal at school are more likely to come to class regularly and stay engaged.
The program covers all public school kindergarten and Grade 1 students nationwide, reaching the youngest learners at the most critical stage of their educational development.
Sy said the budget tripling reflects the government’s commitment to addressing malnutrition and stunting among Filipino children, which has long been identified as a key barrier to learning.
