Pursuant to Republic Act 11037 also known as Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act,
promulgated on June 20, 2018, the National Feeding Program shall be implemented targeting all
undernourished in public day care, kindergarten and elementary schools to address undernutrition and
hunger. One of the components of the National Feeding Program is the Milk Feeding Program.
In the Department of Education (DepEd), the Bureau of Learner Support Services-School Health Division
(BLSS-SHD), shall lead in the implementation of the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP)-Milk Feeding
Program Component, to contribute to the improvement of nutritional status, classroom attendance and
school performance of target beneficiaries to more than 85% per annum. In addition to the hot meals
being given to the beneficiaries, pasteurized fresh milk or sterilized milk will also be served.
For School Year (SY) 2019-2020, fresh milk or sterilized milk shall be provided to all undernourished
Kindergarten to Grade 6, who are also SBFP beneficiaries for hot meals, for at least 20 feeding days.
A total of 394,433 undernourished children are expected to benefit from the implementation of a
nationwide School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) pursuant to Republic Act No. 11037 also known as the
“Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act”.
Said undertaking is a joint effort of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of
Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) in line with the law institutionalizing a national feeding
program for undernourished children in public schools.
In June 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed RA No. 11037 to address the problem of undernutrition
among Filipino children through a National Feeding Program of which one of the components is the Milk
Feeding Program with fresh milk or fresh milk-based product as additional component to cycle-menu
hot meals in the SBFP.
“This program is not only beneficial to undernourished children but also to dairy value chain players as it
has created a higher demand for locally produced milk, thus, providing them sustainable livelihood and
boosting the local dairy industry,” DA-PCC Executive Director Dr. Arnel Del Barrio said.
The DepEd and DA-PCC signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to embark on and implement a
Milk Feeding Program in accordance with the mandates and objectives of RA No. 11037.
Under the program, all undernourished Kindergarten to Grade 6 pupils, who are also SBFP beneficiaries
for hot meals, will receive 200 ml toned carabao’s milk daily for at least 20 feeding days.
“This program is very timely to help boost their immune system against COVID-19 and improve their
milk drinking habit as they grow up,” Sawit said.
Due to the global health crisis, each municipality will have its designated drop-off points for the delivery,
inspection, and acceptance of the milk products. From the drop-off points, DepEd will conduct a houseto-house distribution of carabao’s milk to the beneficiaries.
The milk feeding program, which supposedly started in March but was delayed due to the pandemic, is
expected to commence in August in time for the proposed opening of classes.