By PR | 11:44 AM September 22, 2025
Sen. Bam Aquino is calling for a P3-billion budget increase to combat child malnutrition, arguing that the current government funding is insufficient. He stated that this modest additional amount would allow the Department of Education’s (DepEd) feeding program to be extended for millions of at-risk children.
In the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing this Thursday, Aquino highlighted that an extra P3 billion is all that’s needed to extend the DepEd’s feeding program from 120 to 150 days for three million severely wasted (malnourished) and wasted (undernourished) Filipino children.
“Napag-usapan namin nitong Huwebes sa hearing… para sa Nutrition Program, P3 bilyon lang ang kailangan para madagdagan ang feeding program para sa 3 milyong severely wasted na bata,” he said.
Binigyang-diin pa ni Aquino na maliit na halaga lang ang P3 bilyon, lalo na’t trilyong piso ang nawawala sa kaban ng bayan dahil sa katiwalian.
Aquino emphasized that the requested amount is a small price to pay compared to the trillions of pesos lost to corruption.
“Ilagay natin sa konteksto. Para madagdagan ang feeding program para sa 3 milyong severely wasted at wasted na bata, mula 120 hanggang 150 days, P3 bilyon lang ang kailangan. Sa totoo lang, kulang pa nga ‘yan, at trilyon, posibleng trilyon na ang ninanakaw sa atin,” he added.
Aquino stressed that malnutrition poses a significant threat to the future of Filipino children and the entire nation. He believes that properly addressing this issue is a matter of prioritizing the welfare of the youth.
According to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), one in four Filipino children under five years old suffers from stunting.
From 2000 to 2020, an estimated 26.7% of children were affected, a condition with lifelong consequences on their ability to learn and succeed.
Experts explain that stunting, a result of chronic malnutrition, impairs not only physical growth but also cognitive development, health, and productivity.
“Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act” was enacted seven years ago. Aquino authored the law but he says its implementation remaijs limited due to lack of funding.
For 2025, the DepEd’s school-based feeding programhas a budget of P11. 77 billion, but there is a proposal to increase this to P14 billion for 2026 to cover over 15 million Filipino children from kindergarten to Grade 6.
