SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to strengthen its efforts to address school dropouts and child stunting, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Cayetano warned that the region’s high dropout and child stunting rates could have long-term consequences for children’s education, health, and development.

Citing figures on the region’s challenges, the senator said BARMM has a school dropout rate of 8 percent, while child stunting affects more than 30 percent of children and approaches 40 percent in some cases.

He warned that poor nutrition and limited access to education could reinforce poverty and create greater challenges for the region over the next five to 10 years.

While acknowledging the limits of national government intervention in BARMM because of its autonomous status, Cayetano urged DepEd to work closely with regional authorities and other partners to develop targeted solutions.

He also proposed a special education assistance program for BARMM, citing a previous government initiative that helped reduce school dropouts through the distribution of free school uniforms and notebooks.

Cayetano likewise expressed concern over the reduction in funding for the school-based feeding program, which he said was cut from P25 billion to P11.43 billion under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.

He asked Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara how the government could sustain efforts to address child stunting and ensure that children most in need receive adequate nutritional support.

The senator stressed that the government must reconsider its approach if existing programs are failing to deliver the desired results.

Cayetano also cited declining national school enrollment figures from DepEd’s Education Management Information System Division.

According to the data he presented, enrollment increased from 22.6 million students in 2019 to 22.7 million in 2020, before reaching 24 million in school year 2021–2022.

The figures subsequently declined to 23.2 million in 2023, 22.5 million in school year 2024–2025, and 22.1 million in school year 2025–2026.

Cayetano urged DepEd to identify priority areas that require additional funding and develop targeted interventions to improve education outcomes despite budget constraints.

He told Angara that lawmakers could help the department seek an additional P51 billion, but emphasized that DepEd must first identify where the funds would have the greatest impact.

Cayetano said the Senate’s budget deliberations should help identify practical and effective solutions to improve the country’s education system, particularly for children most at risk of dropping out or suffering from malnutrition.