“NO child should learn on an empty stomach.”

This was emphasized by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as the 2026 national budget expands feeding programs in public schools and child development centers (CDCs).

“Mahalagang tutukan natin ang kalusugan at nutrisyon ng mga mag-aaral, lalo na’t may malalim na ugnayan ito sa kanilang kakayahan,” said Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.

The Department of Education’s School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP), for instance, will increase the number of feeding days from 120 to 200 this year.

The SBFP, which is expected to benefit 4.6 million learners in 2026, will cover all learners from Kindergarten to Grade 1.

Wasted, severely wasted, stunted, and severely stunted learners from Grades 2 to 6 will continue to receive support under the program, which received an allocation of ₱25.7 billion this year.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Supplementary Feeding Program was allotted ₱9.6 billion under the 2026 national budget, extending feeding days from 120 to 180 and benefiting 1.8 million learners.

The program covers children aged 3 to 5 in CDCs and those aged 2 to 4 under the supervised neighborhood play program.