FORMER Senator Kiko Pangilinan is advocating for a free nutritious breakfast for public elementary school students, particularly in areas with high poverty rates, expressing concern over the high number of malnourished children in the country.

Pangilinan believes this initiative could help reduce, if not eradicate, the alarming rates of malnutrition and stunting.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2022 data, over three million Filipino children under the age of 5 are stunted, and more than 1 million are wasted.

The Food and Nutrition Research Institute has also reported that one in three Filipino children aged 6-12 suffers from malnutrition. Pangilinan noted that this contributes to lower academic performance, higher absenteeism, and may even lead to school dropouts.

“Walang batang dapat mag-aral ng gutom. Sa libreng almusal, binibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon na magtagumpay,” Pangilinan said.

“Pag ang tiyan ay puno, handa ang utak. Tulong para sa mga batang nangangailangan ng tamang nutrisyon ang kailangan para magtagumpay sa paaralan,” he added, emphasizing how poor nutrition affects a child’s cognitive development, attention span, and energy levels, which in turn impacts their learning outcomes.

Currently, Republic Act 11037, or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, limits the Supplemental Feeding Program of the DSWD and the School-Based Feeding Program of the DepEd to undernourished children only.

Providing elementary students with a nutritious breakfast— such as rice, eggs, fruits, and milk or other locally available food— would lead to improved health, enhanced school performance, and allow children to grow into more productive adults, contributing to the nation’s economic progress.

“Hindi lang pagkain ang inihahain, kundi pagkakataon. Sa libreng almusal, binibigyan natin ng lakas ang ating kabataan na humarap sa anumang hamon ng buhay,” Pangilinan pointed out.

“Hindi sapat ang pangarap lang, kailangan din nila ng lakas. Ang gutom ay kalaban ng edukasyon. Kasama natin ang bawat bata sa kanilang tagumpay sa pamamagitan ng libreng almusal,” he added.

With over 22 million public school students, Pangilinan estimated the total cost of the program to be approximately P13.2 billion annually for a 180-day school year. This could be funded by using the budget for existing government feeding programs or by partnering with the private sector and non-governmental organizations.

“Kung kailangan, puwede rin itong tustusan ng pondo ng Department of Social Welfare and Development para sa poverty alleviation,” he said.

Pangilinan suggested the government could collaborate with local farmers and suppliers to provide fresh and locally grown produce through the Sagip Saka Act, which he authored in the Senate. The law allows the government to directly purchase from farmers and fisherfolk without going through public bidding.

Pangilinan also called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to collaborate with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to prioritize and allocate the necessary funds for the program. He further encouraged lawmakers to co-sponsor and support the bill to institutionalize a free breakfast law for public primary school students. He also urged local government units to complement the initiative by supporting school feeding programs in their areas.

“Ang pagtutok sa kalusugan at edukasyon ng ating mga kabataan ay isang epektibong paraan para matiyak ang mas maunlad na kinabukasan ng ating bansa. Tiyakin natin na walang maiiwan na bata pagdating sa kalidad ng edukasyon at kalusugan,” Pangilinan concluded.