GATCHALIAN EYES SCHOOL MEALS FOR LEARNERS FROM KINDER TO GRADE 1

SENATOR Win Gatchalian is proposing to include all Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) School-Based Feeding Program.

Gatchalian’s office estimates that around P16 billion is needed to implement a 200-day feeding program for all learners in Kindergarten to Grade 1.

The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education emphasized the importance of providing adequate nutrition to learners in their formative years.

To ensure consistent quality of meals, Gatchalian suggests the implementation of different modalities based on the local government units’ (LGU) size.

He shared how smaller cities and municipalities can have a central kitchen.

Gatchalian also emphasized the need to mobilize LGUs to implement nutrition programs, which is consistent with the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act (Republic Act No. 12199).

“Kaya ba nating pakainin ang tatlong milyong bata araw-araw ng kalidad na pagkain? Ito ‘yung hamon sa atin. And this what we want to learn from the DepEd because we can work on the budget, but can they spend it?” Gatchalian said.