SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is proposing to include all Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners in the Department of Education’s School-Based Feeding Program.

His office estimates that around P16 billion is needed to implement a 200-day feeding program for all learners in these levels.

The Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education stressed the importance of providing adequate nutrition to learners in their formative years.

To ensure consistent quality of meals, Gatchalian suggested adopting different modalities based on the size of local government units. For smaller cities and municipalities, he recommended a central kitchen system.

He also emphasized the need to mobilize LGUs in implementing nutrition programs, consistent with the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act or Republic Act No. 12199.

“Kaya ba nating pakainin ang tatlong milyong bata araw-araw ng kalidad na pagkain? Ito yung hamon sa atin. And this is what we want to learn from the DepEd because we can work on the budget, but can they spend it?” Gatchalian said.