THE DEPARTMENT of Education plans to expand its feeding program in a bid to keep children in school and address malnutrition, an official said.

The school-based feeding program serves undernourished students from Kindergarten to Grade 6.

“Kasi nasa 120 days for the school year ang ating school-based feeding program, we are looking to expand this, to try and see if we could have it for the entire school year,” DepEd Undersecretary and Spokesman Michael Poa said.

The feeding program is in line with the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act.

Poa said with the expansion of the feeding program, students will be less likely to quit school due to malnutrition.

“That’s very important because it hits two birds with one stone. Aside from giving proper nutrition to our learners, it also encourages our learners to stay in school,” he added.