SENATOR Juan Edgardo Angara stressed the need to expand school-based feeding program to include secondary level learners to further address undernutrition among the students.

Angara noted the lack of sufficient food remains a problem among many school-aged children and should be addressed immediately to remove obstacles to the development of these children.

“Studies have consistently shown that hunger has a correlation to the ability of students to learn. This is on top of the still nagging issue of stunting among Filipino children, which is why we must constantly find ways to provide them with proper nutrition in all stages of development,” Angara said.

Angara refiled his bill seeking to amend Republic Act 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, which institutionalized the national feeding program for undernourished children in public day care, kindergarten, and elementary schools.

Under the measure, the program will include learners from Grades 7 to 12 or junior and senior high school.

“Isinasama natin ang mga estudyante ng junior at senior high school sa SBFP dahil sila din ay apektado ng kakulangan sa pagkain kung saan ang gutom ay nagiging hadlang sa kanilang pag-aaral. Nakakalungkot ang sitwasyon na ito na kadalasan ay hindi maiwasan dahil sa kahirapan,” Angara said.

The senator stressed poverty has also affected the education of many Filipino children who end up dropping out of school because of hunger.

“Children who go to school hungry are inevitably placed at a disadvantage over their well-fed counterparts. We all are aware of how difficult it is to function when one is hungry and it’s no different with students when it comes to learning on an empty stomach,” Angara said.