TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
Senate
of the ^Pm-tar,?
25 AUG 19 A9 40
SENATE
S. No. 1207
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF NATIONAL FEEDING PROGRAM AND 
MANDATING THE PROCUREMENT FROM LOCAL OR SMALL-SCALE FARMERS 
AND FISHERFOLK IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL FEEDING 
PROGRAM AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 11037 OR THE 
"MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO ACT".
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Constitution highlights the paramount importance of education with 
a separate and dedicated Article and several key provisions mandating the State to 
implement programs for its full development. Despite these constitutional mandates, 
the education sector continuously faces pressing challenges hindering progress and 
innovation.
Tasked to undertake a comprehensive national assessment and evaluation of 
the performance of the Philippine education sector, the Second Congressional 
Commission on Education (EDCOM II) published its Year Two Report early this year. 
It found, among others, the prevalence of stunting in the Philippines remained 
persistently high from 2000 to 2020, with 26.7% of children under 5 affected as of 
2021.1
Multiple studies have empirically established the negative effects of malnutrition 
on academic performance including a study which found that stunting, a consequence
1 «iFixing the Foundations: A Matter of National Survival," EDCOM II Year Two Report, 2025


of chronic undernutrition, not only hampers physical growth but also compromises 
cognitive function, educational achievement and future economic productivity2.
Enacted in 2017, Republic Act No. 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain para 
sa Batang PiUpino Act, institutionalized the National Feeding Program in public day 
care centers, kindergartens and elementary schools. However, EDCOM II reports that 
school-based feeding programs are beset by implementation challenges and poor 
monitoring and evaluation of outcomes3. While a Social Weather Stations (SWS) 
survey last year shows that the number of Filipino families who experienced 
involuntary hunger rose from 22.9 percent in September 2024 to 25.9 percent in 
December 20244, with prevalent reports of high school students, especially from 
impoverished families, of going to schools on empty stomach.
By extending the program to a full academic year and by including Junior and 
Senior High School students enrolled in public schools, this bill aims to strengthen and 
expand the coverage of RA 11037 and consolidate all existing feeding programs of 
other governmental agencies for a targeted and integrated delivery of services.
The amendment also mandates that at least 40% of the supplies or produce to 
be used in the feeding program shall be directly sourced or purchased from local or 
small-scale farmers and fisherfolk or shall be in implemented pursuant to Section 11 
of Republic Act No. 11321 or the Sagip Saka Act. This is to promote and support 
farmers and fisherfolk in the locality.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR
2 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gOv/articles/PMC11049343/#B9-children-ll-00476
3 Id
4 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2024676/hunger-among-filipinos-hits-new-high-in-q4-2024-sws-survey


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1207
25 AUG 19 A9 40
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF NATIONAL FEEDING PROGRAM AND 
MANDATING THE PROCUREMENT FROM LOCAL OR SMALL-SCALE FARMERS 
AND FISHERFOLK IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL FEEDING 
PROGRAM AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 11037 OR THE 
"MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO ACT".
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Expanded National
2 
Feeding Program Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11037 or the "Masustansyang Pagkain
4 
Para sa Batang Pilipino Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
5 
"Sec. 4. XXX
6 
(a) Supplemental Feeding Program for Day Care Children. - The DSWD, in
7 
coordination with the LGUs concerned AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
8 
AGENCIES AND OFFICES CONDUCTING COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING
9 
PROGRAMS, shall implement a supplemental feeding program for under
10 
nourished children with ages three (3) to five years. The program shall be
11 
administered in a day care centers or in any other facility which can be used
12 
for such purpose: Provided, That the Program shall include the provision of at
13 
least one (1) fortified meal for THE DURATION OF THE SCHOOL YEAR [a
14 
period of not less than one hundred twenty (120)-days in a year]: Provided,


1 
further, That in the preparation of fortified meals, the DSWD shall work in
2 
collaboration with recognized parents' organizations;
3 
(b) School-Based Feeding Program. - The DepED shall Implement a school-
4 
based feeding program for [undernourished] public school children from
5 
kindergarten to grade [six (6)] TWELVE (12) ; Provided, That the Program
6 
shall include the provision of at least one (1) FULL fortified meal to
7 
[undernourished] all public KINDERGARTEN, elementary, JUNIOR HIGH
8 
SCHOOL, AND SENIOR HIGH school [children] STUDENTS for [a period of
9 
not less than one hundred twenty (120) days in a year)] FOR THE DURATION
10 
OF THE SCHOOL YEAR;"
11 
(c) xxx;
12 
Sec. 3. A new sub-paragraph (i) under the same Section 4 shall be added and
13 
read as follows:
14 
"Sec. 4. National Feeding Program. - xxx:
15 
(I) 
PROCUREMENT OF PRODUCE OR SUPPLIES FROM SMALL
16 
SCALE PRODUCERS - PURSUANT TO SECTION 11 OF
17 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11321 OR THE SAGIP SAKA ACT,
18 
GOVERNMENT IS HEREBY MANDATED TO ENSURE THAT
19 
40% OR MORE OF THE PRODUCE OR SUPPLIES NEEDED
20 
FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION THE NATIONAL FEEDING
21 
PROGRAM UNDER THIS ACT SHALL BE PROCURED OR
22 
DIRECTLY 
PURCHASED 
FROM SMALL-SCALE
23 
PRODUCERS OR FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK AS
24 
CERTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE."
25 
Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
26 
the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the
27 
Department of Agriculture (DA), the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the Food and
28 
Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department
29 
of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Budget and Management
30 
(DBM) and such other relevant government agencies, nongovernment organizations,
31 
and development partners, shall promulgate their respective rules and regulations for
32 
the efficient and effective of this act. The implementing rules and regulations issued


1 
pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication in two (2)
2 
national newspapers of general circulation.
3 
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
4 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.
5 
Sec, 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders and rules, and regulations
6 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
7 
amended accordingly.
8 
Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
9 
publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,