NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. B. No. .91 fi
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•22 JUL27 P4S1
ilECEIVEDilf:
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
EXPANDING THE NATIONAL FEEDING PROGRAM IN SECONDARY 
SCHOOLS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11037 OR 
THE "MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO ACT"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
For nearly thirty years, undernutrition has been a chronic problem in the 
Philippines. The World Bank reports that in this duration, there have been almost no 
improvements in the prevalence of undernutrition in the Philippines, with the country 
ranking 5th among countries in the East Asia and Pacific region with the highest 
prevalence of stunting and among the 10 countries in the world with the highest 
number of stunted children. The report also identified poverty as one of the most 
important causes of undernutrition.1
This problem is further elaborated by a 2018 study published by the Philippine 
Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) which noted that among the common 
causes for students - specifically those in Grades 1-6 - to drop out of school is 
hunger. Simply put, children belonging to poor families with highly unstable sources 
of income often go to school hungry which immediately puts them at a disadvantage 
over their other well-to-do classmates.
1 https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/publication/-key-findings-undernutrition-in-the- 
Philippines


To address undernutrition, President Duterte signed, in 2018, Republic Act 
No. 11037 or the "Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act" which 
established a National Feeding Program for undernourished public-school children in 
day care centers, as well as those in kindergarten to Grade 6. The law was enacted 
to address the problem of undernutrition, with the State recognizing the 
demonstrated relationship between food and nutrition, and the capacity of students 
to develop and learn.2
Over the course of four years since the law's enactment, concerned 
government agencies including the DSWD, DepEd, and DA have been working to 
ensure the proper implementation of the law, in spite of the difficulties brought by 
the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, in February 2021, DepEd reported that they 
served around 3.5 million learners in over 33,000 public schools for its School-Based 
Feeding Program (SBFP) for the school year 2020-2021 - surpassing the 
department's benchmark target of 1.7 million learners.3
However, it is important to note that the COVID-19 pandemic and the 
numerous lockdowns exacerbated the financial vulnerabilities of many households. 
In fact, a survey conducted by the Social Weather Station showed that around 
12.2% or an estimated 3.1 million Filipino families experienced "involuntary" hunger 
from January to April 2022 due to lack of food. The number of Filipino households 
who experienced hunger was 0.4 percentage points higher than the 11.8 percent or 
estimated 3 million families recorded in December 2021.4
Through this measure, we will aim to address what is identified as among the 
biggest problems of the student population by expanding the coverage of the 
School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) as mandated by RA 11037 to include learners
2 Sec. 2, Republic Act No. 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act
3 https://www.deped.gov.ph/2021/02/20/depeds-school-based-feeding-progrann-records-3-5-million- 
student-beneficiaries-for-sy-2020-2021/
4https://www.pna.gov. ph/articles/1176050# :~:text=According%20to%20the%20SWS'%20April,due 
%20to%20lack%20of%20food.


from Grades 7 to 12 to ensure that proper government interventions are in place for 
the youth in their formative and adolescent years.
In our overarching goal to ensure the country's survival, recovery, 
revitalization from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to send a strong 
message that investments in our human capital resources, specifically our youth, 
remains of tantamount importance.
In view of the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. No. 915
SMicr e( t\)i
*22 JUL 27 P4 51
received iV:
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
EXPANDING THE NATIONAL FEEDING PROGRAM IN SECONDARY 
SCHOOLS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11037 OR 
THE "MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO ACT"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Section 4 (b) Republic Act No. 11037 otherwise known as the
2 
"Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act" is hereby amended to read as
3 
follows:
4 
"SECTION. 4 (b). School-Based Feeding Program. - The DepEd shall
5 
implement a school-based feeding program for undernourished public school
6 
[children] LEARNERS from kindergarten to grade [six (6)] TWELVE (12):
7 
Provided, That the Program shall include the provision of at least one (1)
8 
fortified meal to all undernourished public KINDERGARTEN, elementary,
9 
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND SENIOR HIGH school [children]
10 
LEARNERS for a period of not less than one hundred twenty (120) days in a
11 
year;"
12 
SEC. 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
13 
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education (DepEd), in consultation with
14 
the National Nutrition Council (NNC) the Food and Nutrition Research Institute
15 
(FNRI), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the
16 
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and concerned LGUs, and such
17 
other relevant government agencies, nongovernment organizations, and


1 
development partners shall promulgate their respective rules and regulations for the
2 
efficient and effective implementation of this Act.
3 
SEC. 3. Separability Cause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared
4 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to
5 
be in full force and effect.
6 
SEC. 4. Repealing Cause. - All other laws, decrees, orders, other issuances,
7 
rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
8 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
9 
SEC. 5. Eifectivity. - This Act shali take effect after fifteen (15) days
10 
following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
11 
circulation.
Approved,