Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo said on Sunday that the House of Representatives has allocated up to P17 billion this year to fund vital school- and community-based feeding programs aimed at combating child hunger and boosting school attendance.
Of the P17-billion budget, P11.8 billion is earmarked for the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) under the Department of Education, while P5.2 billion is allocated to the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
“These feeding programs are a lifeline for children who go to bed hungry. Access to nutritious meals can mean the difference between staying in school or dropping out for many of these children,” Rillo said.
According to Rillo, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, the announcement comes amid troubling findings from a Social Weather Stations survey conducted from March 15 to 20, which showed that 27.2% of Filipino families—equivalent to roughly 7.5 million households—experienced involuntary hunger, or having nothing to eat at least once in the past three months.
“We are counting on the feeding programs not only to ease child hunger and malnutrition but also to keep vulnerable learners in school,” he added.
“These are critical investments in the health, development, and education of our nation’s children. They not only nourish young minds and bodies but also help lift families out of the cycle of poverty,” Rillo said.
The SBFP targets incoming kindergarten to grade six pupils who are classified as wasted, severely wasted, stunted, or severely stunted.
Meanwhile, the SFP supports undernourished children aged three to five who are enrolled in child development centers managed by local governments, as well as those aged two to four participating in supervised neighborhood playgroups.
In a statement, Rillo also highlighted his ongoing efforts to distribute free school supplies to public elementary and high school students.
“By providing children with free uniforms, bags, and shoes, we are fostering classrooms where everyone feels valued and dignified,” he said.
A staunch advocate for greater access to education, Rillo authored Republic Act No. 11984, which prohibits the “no permit, no exam” policy in all schools.
Rillo emphasized that ensuring children’s basic needs—from food to school supplies—can significantly reduce barriers to education. “When we invest in our children’s well-being today, we are laying the foundation for a stronger, more prosperous Philippines tomorrow,” he said.
