MANILA — Sen. Bam Aquino sponsored a measure seeking to establish a universal feeding program that would cover nearly eight million Kindergarten to Grade 3 learners in public schools.

Aquino presented Senate Bill No. 2272, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 11037, or the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act. The sponsorship was originally scheduled for May 11 but was postponed due to changes in Senate leadership.

“Sa lahat ng pangyayari sa Senado sa nakaraang buwan, ang reporma na ito para sa kabataang nagugutom ang isa sa nakakapanghinayang na naantala ng ilang linggo,” Aquino said in his sponsorship speech.

Based on Department of Education enrollment data for School Year 2025–2026, a total of 7,989,911 Kindergarten to Grade 3 learners would benefit from the proposed program. The measure provides for 231 days of feeding, consisting of 201 school days and an additional 30 days during summer classes.

Aquino said the proposal is aimed at addressing child malnutrition, which he described as a major obstacle to children’s development and learning.

“Currently, 26.7% of Filipino children under five years old are stunted. Ibig sabihin po, isa sa bawat apat na kabataan ay hindi naaabot ang kanilang tunay na potensyal. They will carry the lifelong burden of undernutrition,” Aquino said.

The senator stressed that efforts to improve nutrition are closely linked to addressing challenges in education, as undernourished children often struggle to concentrate and perform in school.

“Ang ating panukala ngayon ay hindi lamang isang feeding program. Ito ay reporma sa edukasyon, isang public health strategy, at isang hakbang sa pagpapaunlad ng human capital ng ating bansa,” he said.

Aquino said the bill introduces three major reforms intended to strengthen the implementation of the existing law, which he helped sponsor and co-author during his tenure as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education in 2017.

One of the proposed changes is the adoption of universal feeding for all Kindergarten to Grade 3 learners in public schools.

“Ginagawa rin nating universal feeding para sa lahat ng batang nasa Kinder to Grade 3. Ibig sabihin po, lahat ng bata sa Kinder to Grade 3 sa public school ay makakakuha ng masustansiyang pagkain,” Aquino said.

He added that undernourished learners in higher grade levels would continue receiving assistance through the National Feeding Program.

“Isa po ito sa pinakamahalagang hakbang at pinakamalaking reporma para tugunan ang krisis sa nutrisyon at sisiguraduhin po natin na tuloy-tuloy ang pag-aalaga,” he added.

The measure also adopts a life-stage approach that would provide nutrition interventions from pregnancy through high school while assigning clearer responsibilities to government agencies and other stakeholders involved in implementation.

In addition, the bill proposes the creation of a Universal Health Record system to improve the monitoring of children’s nutritional status and development.

“Sisimulan din po natin ang isang Universal Health Record (UHR). Sa pamamagitan ng tama at updated na data tungkol sa nutrisyon, mas madali rin pong matututukan at mababantayan ang paglaki ng bawat bata mula barangay hanggang sa paaralan,” Aquino said.

The proposal also seeks to support local farmers and fisherfolk by sourcing ingredients for freshly prepared meals from them.

Under the measure, local government units would be given a larger role in implementing the National Feeding Program through direct coordination with the Department of Education and access to a portion of national funds allocated for feeding initiatives.

Aquino urged fellow lawmakers to support the bill, saying investments in nutrition would contribute to building a healthier and more productive population.

“Gaya po ng iba nating mga reporma sa edukasyon, inaasahan ko po ang inyong suporta upang masiguro na wala nang batang Pilipino ang uuwi na gutom, o mahihirapang mag-aral dahil sa kumukulong sikmura. Simulan po natin ang pag-unlad sa pinakapundasyon—isang batang busog, malusog, at handang matuto,” he said.

The measure was co-sponsored by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senators Joel Villanueva, Kiko Pangilinan, Erwin Tulfo, and Raffy Tulfo.