DepEd earmarks record P25.6B for school feeding program, targets 4.6M learners

The Department of Education (DepEd) is ramping up its fight against classroom hunger, allocating a record P25.6 billion for its School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) in School Year 2026–2027 —more than double last year’s budget, as it aims to reach 4.63 million learners nationwide.

The expanded funding signals what DepEd described as its most ambitious feeding initiative yet, positioning nutrition as a central pillar of learning recovery and student well-being.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., together with Education Secretary Sonny Angara, recently led a feeding activity at Jose Zurbito Sr. Elementary School in Masbate City to mark the nationwide scale-up.

Longer feeding, wider reach

Under the new rollout, the SBFP will cover 200 feeding days, a significant increase from the 120-day cycle implemented in 2025.

The program will now target:

• Kindergarten to Grade 1 learners (universal feeding)
• Undernourished students in Grades 2 to 6
• Pregnant adolescent learners
• Vulnerable and marginalized learners beyond Grade 6

DepEd said the expanded coverage reflects a shift from short-term intervention to sustained nutritional support aimed at improving both health and academic performance.

From billions to impact

Data from the department showed a rapid increase in both funding and beneficiaries in recent years:

2022: P3.3 billion, 30 feeding days, 3.48 million learners

2023: P5.7 billion, 120 feeding days, 1.67 million learners

2024: P11.7 billion, 175 feeding days, 2.11 million learners

2025: P11.8 billion, 120 feeding days, 3.39 million learners

2026: P25.6 billion, 200 feeding days, 4.63 million learners

DepEd said the increased investment is meant to “embed nutrition into the basic education framework,” ensuring learners are physically ready to absorb lessons.

‘More than nutrition’

 Angara stressed that the program goes beyond addressing hunger.

“We are fulfilling President Bongbong Marcos’ directive to end the cycle of malnutrition in our schools by giving our learners the health to reach their goals,” Angara said.

Teachers who observed the program during the President’s visit to Masbate reported improvements in student attendance and classroom engagement, which DepEd said reinforces the link between nutrition and learning outcomes.

Bringing services closer

DepEd is also set to bring the feeding program to urban communities, with a multi-service school engagement scheduled at Batasan Hills National High School in Quezon City.

The event will feature feeding activities alongside a “Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair” for senior high school graduates, a visit to the Gulayan sa Paaralan program, and an energy conservation lecture for students.

Toward long-term learning readiness

With the expanded budget and longer feeding cycle, DepEd said the SBFP is evolving into a long-term intervention rather than a temporary support program.

The agency underscored that ensuring proper nutrition is key to improving attendance, participation, and overall learning outcomes—especially among the country’s most vulnerable students.—LDF, GMA Integrated News