THE OF THE SECRES PHILIP TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES E RECEIVED DAHUL - 3 2025 ₴ First Regular Session ) TIME: 4:29 pm BY: BALLS & INDEX S. No. _ SSENARY Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo AN ACT EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM AND MANDATING THE PROCUREMENT FROM SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL FEEDING PROGRAM AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 11037 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO ACT" EXPLANATORY NOTE Republic Act 11037, also known as the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, was signed into law for the purpose of establishing a National Feeding Programme for Undernourished Children in Public Day Care, Kindergarten and Elementary Schools to Combat Hunger and Undernutrition in our country. However, Reports indicate that the majority of Filipino children still go to school with an empty stomach. And some children are discouraged and prevented from attending school due to lack of provisions for food to be brought to school or what we call baon. It is the policy of the state to promote children's rights to survival and development. It is imperative that we recognize the link between a healthy diet and the growth of the body and mind. The State shall encourage school children from Kindergarten to Grade 12, particularly those from low-income families, to have access to affordable and wholesome food. Improving the health condition of the children will not only improve their learning capacity but also improve their academic performance.
The purpose of this bill is to improve and expand the existing school feeding program to cover all public school learners from Kinder all the way to senior high school or Grade 12 This bill also seeks to help our agricultural industry by mandating that 30% or more of the supplies needed to implement the national feeding program shall be procured from small-scale farmers. It is for this purpose that the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. RAFFY T. TULFO pay
THE TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIP RECEIVED REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES DAHLUL - 3 20252 First Regular Session ) TIME: _ " C. 4:79 pm BY: - SENATE S. No. _ BALLS & INDEX Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM AND MANDATING THE PROCUREMENT FROM SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL FEEDING PROGRAM AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 11037 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MASUSTANSYANG PAGKAIN PARA SA BATANG PILIPINO ACT" Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines, in Congress assembled:
Section. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Expanded School-Based
Feeding Program Act".
Sec. 2. Section 4 (b) of Republic Act No. 11037, otherwise known as the
"Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
SEC. 4. xxx
(b) School-Based Feeding Program. - The DepED shall implement a school-based feeding program for (undernourished) public school children from kindergarten to grade [six (G)] TWELVE (12) ; Provided, That the Program shall include the provision of at least one (1) FULL fortified meal to all public KINDERGARTEN, elementary, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND SENIOR HIGH school [children] LEARNERS for [a period of not less than one hundred twenty (120) days in a year)] FOR THE DURATION OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR;" (c) xxX;
Sec. 3. A new sub-paragraph (i) under the same Section 4 shall be added and read
2 as follows:
Sec. 4. National Feeding Program. - xxx:
(i) PROCUREMENT OF PRODUCE FROM SMALL SCALE PRODUCERS - THE GOVERNMENT IS, HEREBY, MANDATED TO ENSURE THAT 30% OR MORE OF THE SUPPLIES NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THE NATIONAL FEEDING PROGRAM ARE PROCURED FROM SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS OR FARMERS AS CERTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the
10 approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Department of 11 Agriculture (DA), the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the Food and Nutrition Research 12 Institute (FNRI), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Interior and Local 13 Government (DILG), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and such other relevant government agencies, nongovernment organizations, and development partners, shall promulgate their respective rules and regulations for the efficient and effective of this act. The implementing rules and regulations issued pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty (30) days after publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders and rules, and regulations
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,