When I was in junior high school, I often heard about classmates who went through their school days on empty stomachs. The thought of children having to focus on their studies while battling hunger seemed incredibly unjust. This personal experience has driven me to advocate for the expansion and strengthening of government-funded school feeding programs in Philippine public schools.

Hunger remains a significant barrier to learning for many Filipino students, particularly those from families experiencing financial difficulties and food insecurity. While the Philippine government already implements the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP), access and implementation still need to be strengthened so that more eligible learners can consistently benefit from nutritious meals.

A student who comes to school hungry may have difficulty concentrating, participating in class, and maintaining the energy needed for a full school day. School feeding is therefore not only a nutrition issue, but also an education and equity issue.

This petition calls for the continued expansion and strengthening of government-funded feeding programs in public schools. This includes wider coverage for eligible learners, consistent funding and implementation, nutritious and safe meals, transparent monitoring of program resources, and stronger coordination between DepEd, local government units, schools, and communities.

No student should be disadvantaged in their education because they cannot reliably access enough nutritious food. Strengthening school feeding programs is an investment in Filipino students, their education, and their future.