SENATOR PUSHES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOOL CANTEENS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
/ 8 November 2025
SENATOR Mark Villar is pushing for a measure that mandates the establishment of school canteens in public schools to provide healthy, balanced, and nutritious meals.
In his Senate Bill No. 1212, or the proposed Kantina para sa Mag-aaral Act, Villar stressed that the Philippines is facing both an education and nutrition crisis among its youth.
“UNICEF has sounded alarms on a real and widespread learning crisis, as a vast majority of students are falling significantly behind in reading and mathematics,” Villar said in his explanatory note.
He also cited EDCOM II’s Year Two Report stating that millions of Filipino children remain chronically malnourished, facing challenges of poor health, inadequate nutrition, and limited learning capacity.
“Hungry children do not make good students,” Villar stressed.
The senator emphasized that the impact of malnutrition on academic performance is well-established, with studies showing its adverse effects on physical health, attendance, enrollment, and critical-thinking skills.
The proposed measure seeks to deliver the country’s nutrition program at the very frontlines of education.
The bill mandates the establishment of canteens in all public schools nationwide to enhance the effectiveness of the National Feeding Program.
