National government agencies, local government units, and the private sector must join forces to support the passage of Republic Act No. 11037, which will institutionalize an expanded national feeding program to ensure that school-age children have access to nutritious food.
The four-term lawmaker and chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform co-sponsored RA 11037, or the Masustansyang Pagkain Para Sa Batang Pilipino Act.
“Ang layunin natin ay hindi lang bigyan ng makakain ang mga batang Pilipino. Ang layunin natin ay bigyan sila ng masustansiyang pagkain na magpapalakas sa kanilang katawan, magpapatalas sa kanilang isip, at magtataas sa antas ng kanilang pagkatuto,” a copy of his sponsorship speech stated.
“Kaya naman, hinihimok ko ang aking mga kasamahan dito sa Senado na suportahan natin ang panukalang batas. Hinihimok ko rin ang mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan, mga local government units, at ang private sector na makibahagi sa pagsusulong ng nutrisyon at kalusugan ng kabataang Pilipino,” he added.
In his manifestation during the special session held by the Senate on Wednesday, June 17, the lawmaker explained that the bill will address four critical issues—poverty, health, education, and agriculture and fisheries.
The measure, which consolidated 11 Senate bills—including Pangilinan’s Senate Bill No. 219 or the Libreng Almusal Bill—, aims to expand the current school-based feeding program from 120 days to 200 days.
With a proposed funding of P25.7 billion, the program will address stunted growth, lack of access to healthy meals, and absenteeism among learners.
Pangilinan likewise hailed the program for including provisions of the Sagip Saka Act, the 2019 law that he authored and helped pass, allowing national agencies and local government units to buy food directly from accredited farmers’ and fisherfolk’s cooperatives.
Under the proposed measure, at least 50% of the food requirements for the feeding program must be purchased directly from farmers and fisherfolk, thereby increasing not only their incomes but also their food production capacity.
“Sa ganitong paraan, hindi lang mga bata ang ating binubusog — pinapalakas din natin ang kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda na siyang nagpapakain sa bansa,” the senator said.