THE HOUSE Committee on Basic Education has approved a bill that aims to expand the National Feeding Program to include undernourished children in secondary schools.

The panel chaired by Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo agreed to craft a substitute bill for House Bill 2243 authored by Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, House Bill 4468 by Manila Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr., and House Bill 1137 by Isabela Rep. Faustino “Inno” Dy V. Quimbo.

The bills seek to extend the National Feeding Program to undernourished children in secondary schools and amend Republic Act 11037, or the Masustansyang Pagkain Para Sa Batang Pilipino Act.

Quimbo said the program currently covers children 12 years old and below, or up to Grade 6 students only.

Meanwhile, the committee approved the consolidation of House Bill 3388, authored by Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia, with the previously passed Substitute Bill on the Public Schools of the Future in Technology Act.