President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced Monday that the government will roll out an expanded school feeding program in July, aimed at improving nutrition and learning outcomes for Filipino children.

“Tapos ‘yung sa feeding program din natin mag-start next month… Kaya pinalaki natin, pinalawak natin dati, pinalawak natin ‘yung feeding program para sa mga kabataan (Our feeding program will start next month… We’ve expanded it for our youth),” Marcos told reporters for the opening of classes for School Year 2025-2026.

Marcos said the initiative complements existing programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) focused on early childhood development.

“Kasi kung maalala niyo DSWD meron na tayong program from the First 1,000 days. Kasama na ‘yung pagbubuntis para maganda ‘yung pag-aalaga sa bata bago pa pinanganak at saka pagkatapos manganak (If you recall, DSWD already has a program for the first 1,000 days, including pregnancy to ensure the child is well cared for before and after birth),” he explained.

“Ngayon naman from 5 years old on, ito naman marami tayong programa lalong-lalo na ‘yung feeding program para sa ating mga kabataan (Now from 5 years old onwards, we have more programs, especially the feeding program for our youth.)” (PNA)