SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has filed a measure seeking to institutionalize the Gulayan sa Barangay at Paaralan Program to strengthen food security, improve nutrition, and expand community and school gardening across the country.

Senate Bill No. 2380 proposes making the vegetable gardening initiative a permanent national program by integrating food production efforts in schools, barangays, and households.

In the bill’s explanatory note, Pangilinan cited the 2023 DOST-FNRI National Nutrition Survey, which found that 31.4% of Filipino households experienced moderate to severe food insecurity. The incidence was higher in rural areas at 35.3%, compared with 27.8% in urban communities.

The senator said community and school gardens offer a practical solution by improving household access to fresh vegetables, supporting school feeding programs, promoting nutrition education, and reducing families’ dependence on market purchases during periods of rising food prices and supply disruptions.

Pangilinan also noted that the initiative has already demonstrated broad public participation.

In 2025, the Department of Education reported that the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program was implemented in 44,965 schools, with 94% of public schools maintaining active school gardens.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said more than 4.3 million households were growing fruits and vegetables through the HAPAG sa Barangay initiative.

The proposed measure seeks to build on these existing programs by providing a long-term legal framework for sustainable local food production and improved food security nationwide.