ACED participates in public hearing on school feeding program bills

11 September 2025, marked a significant step towards improving the nutritional well-being of Filipino schoolchildren. The Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED) participated in a public hearing at the Senate of the Philippines Building, where bills related to the School Feeding Program were discussed.

The session was led by Senator Bam Aquino, Chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education, along with Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Chair of the Committee for Food and Agrarian Reform, and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Chair for Finance, as well as representatives from the Department of Education (DepED), EDCOM 2, together with various key stakeholders and non-government organizations. The public hearing was held at the Sen. Ambrosio B Padilla Room at the Senate. 

Mr. Jhoel Loanzon, Feeding Program Supervisor, represented ACED and briefly presented a position paper entitled "Food Augmentation Program as a Pathway to Learning." The paper introduced an efficient alternative strategy by means of distributing food packs which includes vegetables, fruits and root crops to the various existing modalities of school feeding programs, enhancing nutrition and learning outcomes among schoolchildren while simultaneously supporting local farmers through direct sourcing of fresh produce. 

Citing the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) report, Senator Aquino emphasized the need to strengthen and broaden the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act (RA 11037 of 2017), given that 26.7% of Filipino children under five years old suffer from stunting due to inadequate nutrition. 

Through this collaborative effort, stakeholders aim to ensure that every Filipino child has access to decent classrooms and sufficient nutrition for a brighter future. As a closing note, Senator Aquino encouraged all who participated in this event to actively participate in the series of consultations and be part of the technical working group. 

As Senator Aquino noted, "There is a big chance for us to access more budget for this, hence it is time to amend, enhance and expand RA 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act. This gathering is only the beginning as we work together towards a more nourished and educated generation.”

Photos from Sen Bam Aquino and Sen Kiko Pangilinan’s Facebook accounts