The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), will serve more than 1.8 million children enrolled in Local Government Unit (LGU)-run Children Development Centers (CDCs) and Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP) during its nationwide implementation starting June 15.

The SFP, also known as Batang Nutri-Care, provides nutritious hot meals for 180 days to children aged 3 to 5.

In a statement on Wednesday, Director Alfrey Gulla of the DSWD Protective Services Bureau (PSB) said the number of children to undergo the feeding program this 2026 will surpass the figures recorded during its 2025 implementation due to higher allocation and extension of support from 120 days to 180 days.

“As of now, we allocated a total amount of PHP8.5 billion na siyang mapapakinabangan ng mga bata sa 1,620 local government units (LGUs) sa buong bansa (that will benefit children from 1,620 LGUs nationwide),” Gulla said.

Additionally, the program supplies milk or fresh milk-based products to areas with a high prevalence of undernourished children and poverty.

The program also distributes indigenous or locally produced food to children aged 2 to 4 who participate in the SNP.

According to the DSWD, 74.63 percent of the undernourished children served in 2025 demonstrated an improved nutritional status.

The agency aims to surpass this percentage as part of the government’s initiative to fight stunting, malnutrition, and even involuntary hunger.

In addition to providing hot meals, the SFP conducts nutrition and health education sessions through the Parent Effectiveness Service (PES).

These sessions equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge needed to maintain a healthy, nutritious lifestyle at home and beyond.

“Alinsunod po sa kautusan ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na labanan ang malnutrisyon, stunting, at maging ang involuntary hunger sa bansa, patuloy po ang DSWD sa pagbibigay ng programa sa mga bata at sa iba pang vulnerable sectors, na siyang makatutulong para sila ay maging malusog, at maging produktibong miyembro ng ating komunidad (In line with the directive of President Marcos to fight malnutrition, stunting, and even involuntary hunger in the country, the DSWD continues to initiate programs for children and other vulnerable sectors that will help them stay healthy and become productive members of the community),” Gulla said.

In 2025, the DSWD SFP provided fortified meals to over 1.59 million children and distributed milk to 180,265 undernourished children, utilizing a total SFP fund of PHP5.7 billion, successfully reaching 1,480 LGUs nationwide. (PNA)