We laud the Department of Education (DepEd) for expanding the implementation of the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP). We cite in particular the upscaling of this nutrition program for kindergarten learners and Grade 1 to Grade 6 pupils.

Under the expanded program for school year 2025-2026, hot meals will be served to the beneficiaries for a total of 120 days. They will also be given milk for 15 days.

Next week, several members of the cabinet and education officials are slated to come to Antipolo City to launch the program. Their presence signals the importance of this initiative and sends the message that this is a priority project under the present leadership of the DepEd and the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, Jr.

We are grateful for this move by the national government.

After all, hunger is an obstacle to learning. We need to work together to help the hungry learner. If there is one program worth investing precious taxpayer money in, it is this.

Hunger has been known as a major obstacle to learning. As we all know, food is the “fuel” that helps a person get through a normal day. The calories in the food we eat provide the necessary energy that enables us to carry out our daily activities.

This is true for our children. Without the adequate amount of energy, teachers note that they may fall asleep in school and they may not have the energy to pay attention to an entire day of learning activities.

This is inevitable. Our brain, like our other organs, requires energy to function well. When our children are hungry, their memory and concentration are challenged. Insufficient nutrition can also interfere with their sleeping patterns. Lack of sleep makes them too tired to participate in school, focus on the lessons, and absorb learning. The hungry learner is definitely a disadvantaged child.

According to the American Psychological association, hunger also has psychological effects on education. The association cites studies that say that hunger causes depression, anxiety, and withdrawal. These are all obstructions to a child who is trying his or her best to focus on what is being taught.

The association says hunger can also cause behavioral problems. A hungry child’s disruptive behavior can affect fellow learners, distract the teacher, and adversely affect the overall learning atmosphere in the classroom.

It is clear: Hunger not only disturbs the affected child’s learning but also that of his or her classmates.

The effort to help hungry learners is not a purely Third-world concern. Even advanced countries like the United States recognize the need to put government resources into programs that provide nutrition support to learners.

This is why the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) implements federally-funded programs in American public schools that provide children with nutritional support. These include the USDA’s National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Special Milk Program. The federal government also provides financial assistance to poor American families under their Special Nutrition Assistance Program aimed at ensuring that children of these families get enough food so they can have the energy to learn.

The scourge of hunger is present even in rich countries like the US. Governments of these countries recognize that addressing the scourge is crucial if they are to raise intelligent and capable future generations, capable of navigating life and innovating to improve its quality. This is why they channel significant government resources into programs that deal with this challenge.

In our country, the question is, why is the school-based feeding program run for only a limited period?

The fact is our government has long recognized the need for, and the value of school-based feeding programs. It has placed such importance on this program that a law was passed more than 15 years ago for its nationwide implementation. We were also among the first Asian countries to join an international movement called the Global School Meals Coalition. There is no question that the national government is committed to this cause despite its significant impact on the budgets of the implementing agencies.

There are calls from various sectors to expand the implementation of school-based feeding programs further. The aspiration is for the program to go beyond the usual 120 days to the entire school year.

Our view is that such aspiration is facing the challenge of the government’s financial limitations. It is also our view that this aspiration should be a collaborative effort and must not remain a concern that rests on the government’s shoulders alone. All of us must find a stake in a program such as this.

We believe this is the objective of our national government officials when they visit Antipolo next week. They will showcase not just the successes of the program but also the need for more stakeholders to join in and do their share.

The task of preparing our children for the future belongs to all of us.

(The author is the mayor of Antipolo City, former Rizal governor, DENR assistant secretary for the environment, and LLDA general manager. Email: [email protected])