MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan highlighted the importance of sourcing food locally from farmers and fisherfolk in the proposed “Free Meals” program for schools and daycare centers, during a joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education and other related committees.

“The reason why we filed the measure of ‘Libreng Almusal’… it should now be ‘Libreng Pagkain’ or ‘Free Meals,’ because hindi lang naman almusal ang schedule ng ating mga kabataan,” Pangilinan said, noting that the program aims to provide nutritious meals throughout the school day.

He stressed that up to 50 percent of the feeding program supplies, whenever possible, should come from local producers to ensure freshness and nutritional value. The initiative complements the Sagip Saka Act, which allows national and local governments to purchase agricultural products directly from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.

Pangilinan cited recent progress in the approval of related executive orders, EO 100 and EO 101, which facilitate government purchases of palay at minimum floor prices and the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act. He also acknowledged the presence of Agriculture Department official Joycel Panlilio, head of the Sagip Saka desk.

He underscored that the capacity of farmers and fisherfolk is critical to the program’s success. “The weakest link actually in this food supply chain… it’s really the farmers and fisherfolk. So you may have about 14 billion pesos worth of food purchases, but if the farmers and the fisherfolk are not capacitated, then the supply will be inconsistent and the bulk again will go to traders who are able to provide consistency in supply,” he said.

Pangilinan added that the Department of Agriculture will need to enhance its support, citing forthcoming legislation to re-nationalize extension services and return the Bureau of Agriculture Cooperatives to the department to strengthen local supply capacity.

“For purposes of moving forward, we hope a capacitated farmer and fisherfolk sector will be able to supply most, if not all, of the requirements sa local level – that is what we envision with this proposed measure,” he said.

The hearing involved the Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Agriculture, aiming to coordinate efforts in delivering nutritious meals to children.