NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
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SENATE
S. No. 2588
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Introduced by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
AN ACT
TO EXPAND THE COVERAGE OF THE NATIONAL FEEDING PROGRAM IN 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC DAY CARE CENTERS, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE SECTIONS 4 (A) AND 4 (B) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11037, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA 
BATANG PILIPINO ACT", APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 11037, otherwise known as Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa 
Batang PHipino Act', institutionalized the National Feeding Program in DepEd public 
schools and DSWD day care centers. This law was enacted in recognition of the link 
between nutrition and learning outcomes, with the end goal of stemming the rising 
tide of malnutrition among children.
The National Feeding Program currently caters to the following beneficiaries:
1. Undernourished children aged 3-5 years old in the day care centers and the 
supervisory neighborhood play program of the Department of Social Welfare 
and Development (DSWD):
2. Undernourished public school children from kindergarten to grade six (6) who 
are enrolled in public schools under the Department of Education (DepEd).
In 2022, these programs successfully provided hot meals to 3.19 million 
students in public schools and 1.99 million children in day care centers.


The program has been popular. Feedback also suggests that there is a clamor 
to expand the program's coverage. This expansion would be in line with the 
recommendations of the World Food Program (WFP) which has consistently 
advocated for the broadening of such programs. The WFP states these nutrition 
interventions are not only an extensive safety net, but also play a role in responding 
to conflicts and emergencies.
Expanding the coverage of R.A No. 11037 is also in line with its original intent. 
This was manifested in the deliberations on Senate Bill No. 1279.N
This bill thus seeks to expand the coverage of the national feeding program. 
Under this program, all children aged 3 to 6 in DSWD day care centers, and all school 
children from kinder to Grade 6, will be provided with hot meals.
In view of the foregoing, swift passage of this bill is eagerly sought.
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
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SENATE
S. No. 2588
A; " 
i''. lU' !
24 MI\R-5 P 3 ‘17
iMVtDSV
Introduced by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
AN ACT
TO EXPAND THE COVERAGE OF THE NATIONAL FEEDING PROGRAM IN 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC DAY CARE CENTERS, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE SECTIONS 4 (A) AND 4 (B) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11037, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA 
BATANG PILIPINO ACT", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
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
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Child Feeding Program Act".
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SEC. 2. - Section 4 (a) of Republic Act No. 11037 is hereby amended to read
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as foiiows:
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"Section 4. National Feeding Program. - The National Feeding Program,
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hereinafter referred to as the Program, is hereby established to address undernutrition
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among Fiiipino children.
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The Program shall have the following components and coverage:
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(a) Supplemental Feeding Program for Day Care Children. - The DSWD, in
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coordination with the LGUs concerned, shali impiement a supplemental
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feeding program for [under nourished] children [with] FROM ages three
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(3) to five (5) years. The program shall be administered in a day care
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centers or in any other facility which can be used for such purpose:
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Provided, That the Program shali inciude the provision of at ieast one
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(1) fortified meal for a period of not less than one hundred twenty (120)
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days in a year: Provided, further. That in the preparation of fortified


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meals, the DSWD shall work in collaboration with recognized parents' 
organizations;"
XXX
SEC. 3. — Subsection (b) of the same section is hereby amended to read as follows:
(b) School-Based Feeding Program. - The DepED shall implement a school- 
based feeding program for ^undernourished] public school children from 
kindergarten to grade six (6): Provided, That the Program shall include 
the provision of at least one (1) fortified meal to all undernourished 
public elementary school children for a period of not less than one 
hundred twenty (120) days in a year;
XXX
SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the Contingent Fund. Thereafter, 
such sums as may be necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be 
included in the annual budget of the Department of Education under the General 
Appropriations Act.
SEC. 5. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd, in coordination with the DSWD, other shall 
promulgate their respective rules and regulations for the efficient and effective 
implementation of this Act.
SEC. 6. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting.
Section 7. Repeaiing Ciause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations 
or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.


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Section 8. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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pubiication in the Official Gazette;
3 
Approved,
' World Food Program (WFP). State of School Feeding Worldwide. See also Asian Development Blog (WFP). "We 
Need to Expand the School Meal Programs That Are Feeding Asia's Future"
" Senate of the Philippines. Journal for Session No. 63,15 February 2017. Seventeenth Congress, First Regular 
Session.