LAS PIÑAS City Rep. Camille Villar urges the government to expand the National Feeding Program in schools.

In her House Bill 9811, Villar is aiming to amend Republic Act 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act.

Villar explained there is a need to expand the program as the number of undernourished kids in secondary schools increases as well as in daycare centers and kindergarten.

The measure mandates the Department of Education to coordinate with micro, small and medium enterprices or MSMEs, farmers’ cooperative, and community-based and grassroots initiatives for the implementation of the program.

Based on the bill, MSMEs and farmers’ cooperative or community-based suppliers will be the DepEd’s partner for the supplies of food products.

Under the present system, P29 is being allocated for every student meal. 

But in Villar’s bill, the allocation will increase annually based on the inflation rate and nutritional adjustment.