Former senator and 2025 senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan is calling for the decentralization of government feeding programs, citing urgent reforms to prevent food waste, deliver fresh and nutritious meals, and tackle rising dropout rates among students.
The former food security secretary, who is running on the platform of food security and lower prices of goods, is proposing a “Libreng Almusal” program for kinder to senior high school students in public schools to address school dropout rates and learning deficiencies.
Various government agencies are currently implementing school meal programs but these are not streamlined. Pangilinan stressed it’s time to stop the current top-down approach that ends up spoiling food instead of saving children from hunger.
“Ang nangyayari rin kasi sa mga feeding programs na ito, mga traders ang binibilhan ng ating DSWD (Department of Social and Welfare Development) tapos centralized pati. Ibig sabihin ng centralized, manggagaling pa ng central office bago ibababa sa mga probinsya eh ano nang klase ng kalidad ng mga pagkain kapag ganon?,” he explained during a media interview in Pampanga province on Wednesday, April 9.
“Hindi na siya sariwa, hindi pa sya masustansya. In fact, diba may mga insidente pa inaamag, nabubulok? This has to be decentralized. This has to be implemented together with the local governments pero dapat budgetan ng husto,” the former senator added.
He called the school feeding programs “very basic” for students, so they can continue their studies instead of dropping out from school.
“Malaki ang patunay na kapag nakakain ng maayos ang ating mga anak conducive to learning at nababawasan nang hanggang 26% to 27% ang dropout rates. Kinumpara nila yung mga estudyante na may school meals at kinumpara nila sa wala at ang laki ng difference sa learning, ang laki ng diference sa dropout rates, so I think this has to be institutionalized,” he stressed.
According to the World Food Program (WFP), “nutritious food is essential not only for a child’s healthy growth, but for their academic performance as well.”
Shortage in nutrients, the WFP added, reduces brain cell production and results in slower language development, impaired fine motor skills, and lower IQ.
Pangilinan also noted how 30% of Filipino children aged zero to seven years old are malnourished or have stunted growth because of the lack of access to nutritious food.
His “Libreng Almusal” program hopes to keep students in school rather than have them dropout for early work. “Pero kapag libre ang almusal, mas mae-enganyo sila patuloy na magaral at mae-enganyo matuto,” he said.
And to “hit two birds with one stone,” Pangilinan also plans to propose that half of the budget for the school feeding programs will go to buying directly from farmers and fisherfolk in the local community of the schools.
This is possible under the Sagip Saka Act, a law he passed in 2019 to allow national and local governments to buy directly from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding and the restrictions of the procurement law.
Buying directly from local farmers and fisherfolk will increase their incomes, save government budget, and ensure fresh and nutritious food.
Despite running with no political machinery, Pangilinan promised that he could work across political spectrums if he wins another Senate term.
For him, his priority to achieve food security and lower the prices of food in the market go beyond political colors.
“Dahil walang kulay ang gutom. At walang kulay ang solusyon.”