The Senate’s approval of the 2026 education budget finalizes the biggest expansion of the Department of Education’s School-Based Feeding Program in recent years, establishing universal daily feeding for all Kindergarten learners for the first time. The unprecedented allocation reflects Secretary Sonny Angara’s strong emphasis on early childhood nutrition as a critical driver of learning outcomes.
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Record-Breaking 2026 Feeding Budget
The 2026 education budget pushes DepEd’s feeding program to reach 4.49 million learners, with universal coverage for both Kindergarten and Grade 1. Backed by a ?28.66 billion allocation - more than double last year’s budget - the program will deliver 200 days of daily meals to young learners and targeted 45-day nutrition support to over 800,000 Junior and Senior High School students identified as severely wasted.
Reforms Behind the Expansion
This expanded budget is anchored on reforms that Angara championed throughout the year, including tighter coordination with local governments to improve food sourcing and school-based logistics. He also urged Congress to update the School-Based Feeding Program law, pushed for improvements in the GASTPE subsidy program for learners in private schools, and directed DepEd to enhance its data systems for tracking nutrition and learning outcomes.
Nutrition as a Learning Strategy
Angara has consistently framed nutrition as essential to learning, emphasizing its impact on attention, attendance, and long-term academic performance. Under his leadership, DepEd achieved universal Kindergarten feeding nationwide and set the groundwork for universal Grade 1 coverage - placing nutrition at the core of DepEd’s learning recovery efforts.
Impact on Learners and Communities
The expanded feeding program ensures young learners receive regular, nutritious meals that improve focus and classroom engagement. Teachers benefit from more attentive students, while families gain relief from food insecurity. Local governments and communities also play a larger role in food preparation and monitoring, strengthening local participation in education outcomes.
Turning Policy Into Results
Under Secretary Sonny Angara, the 2026 education budget demonstrates how decisive leadership can turn policy goals into tangible improvements. By prioritizing classrooms, nutrition, and community support, this budget marks a major step toward better learning conditions for millions of Filipino children.
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