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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DepEd: Philippines joins global steering group to boost school feeding programs

DepEd: Philippines joins global steering group to boost school feeding programs

The country joins the School Meals Accelerator Governance Committee to strengthen efforts against undernutrition and expand school feeding programs nationwide

Published Mar 31, 2026 05:35 pm
The Philippines, through the Department of Education (DepEd) led by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, marks a milestone in its commitment to global collaboration to expand school feeding programs and address undernutrition among millions of Filipino learners. (DepEd photo)
The Philippines, through the Department of Education (DepEd) led by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, marks a milestone in its commitment to global collaboration to expand school feeding programs and address undernutrition among millions of Filipino learners. (DepEd photo)
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday, March 31, announced that the Philippines has officially joined the Governance Committee of the School Meals Accelerator (SMA), marking a major step in strengthening the country’s school feeding programs and addressing learner nutrition.
DepEd said the announcement followed the country’s participation in the SMA’s inaugural meeting held in Rome, Italy, from March 26 to 27, where global partners convened to establish the initiative’s governance framework and strategic direction.
The Philippines, through DepEd, officially joined Guatemala and the Kingdom of Lesotho as new members of the Governance Committee—a global body tasked with accelerating the delivery of school-based nutrition programs across more than 110 member countries of the School Meals Coalition.
Strengthening the fight against undernutrition
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the country’s inclusion in the committee underscores the administration’s commitment to tackling hunger and improving student well-being.
“Our participation in the SMA Governance Committee reflects the strong political commitment of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address undernutrition and improve the well-being of our learners,” Angara said.
“Through this international collaboration, we are strengthening our capacity to deliver quality, nutritious meals that are essential to the health and academic success of our learners,” he added.
Global collaboration and strategic priorities
The Governance Committee is composed of key international partners, including the Government of Germany, World Food Programme, Rockefeller Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, and the Global Partnership for Education, alongside newly admitted member countries.
During the inaugural meeting, members focused on establishing governance structures, setting strategic priorities, defining funding and support mechanisms, and crafting a three-year work plan for the initiative.
As part of the committee, the Philippines will take part in decision-making processes and gain direct access to SMA support mechanisms designed to accelerate the rollout of national school feeding initiatives.
DepEd officially joined the Governance Committee of the School Meals Accelerator (SMA) during its inaugural meeting in Rome, Italy held from March 26 to 27, 2026. (DepEd photo)
DepEd officially joined the Governance Committee of the School Meals Accelerator (SMA) during its inaugural meeting in Rome, Italy held from March 26 to 27, 2026. (DepEd photo)
Philippines among priority countries
The Philippines has also been identified as one of five priority countries under the SMA, alongside Indonesia, Guatemala, the Kingdom of Lesotho, and Zambia.
This designation allows the country to benefit from catalytic support tailored to national priorities, with flexibility to respond to evolving needs during program implementation.
Angara was represented at the Rome meeting by Roger Masapol, Assistant Secretary for Governance and Operations and the official in charge of DepEd’s School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP).
P25.6 billion budget boosts feeding program
The SMA partnership comes as the Philippine government ramps up efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition, backed by a record P25.6 billion allocation for the School-Based Feeding Program this year.
The funding aims to provide nutritious meals to 4.63 million learners for 200 days, ensuring that students are healthy, nourished, and ready to learn.
READ: 
https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/27/deped-to-launch-largest-school-based-feeding-program-for-463m-learners-in-june
With its inclusion in the SMA Governance Committee, DepEd said the Philippines is poised to scale up its school feeding initiatives through international collaboration, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive, quality education and improved learner outcomes.

Related Tags

DepEd Philippines school feeding program DepEd SMA Governance Committee School Meals Accelerator Philippines SBFP budget 2026 student nutrition Philippines DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara
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