MISLEADING: President Marcos distributed “chichirya” in feeding program

Kristine Claire Edaga

A social media post claims that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. distributed “chichirya” to students during his visit to a school-based feeding program in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan on September 17.

CLAIM: 

The post describes the distribution as Marcos’ “third legacy,” claiming that he gave out “chichirya” during his September 17, 2026 visit to Sta. Barbara Central School in Pangasinan. It also mentions that Marcos previously gave away 8 kilograms of rice and stuffed toys, describing these as his first and second “legacies.”

RATING: MISLEADING 

CONCLUSION:

President Marcos did visit Sta. Barbara Central School in Pangasinan on September 17, 2026, where he witnessed activities related to school feeding and nutrition. However, describing the food as simply “chichirya” is misleading because the products involved were nutrient-fortified food products developed using DOST-FNRI technology for nutrition and feeding programs.

THE FACTS:

• On September 17, 2026, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. visited Sta. Barbara Central School in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, where school feeding and nutrition activities were held.
• During his Pangasinan visit, Marcos also inspected Nutridense Food Manufacturing Corporation, a company that produces fortified and nutrient-rich food products using technologies developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
• According to the PCO, DOST provided Nutridense with food technologies, technical assistance, and machinery support to expand its production.
• Nutridense has adopted DOST-developed technologies for fortified and complementary foods used in school feeding, supplementary nutrition, and other government programs.
• The items distributed during the activity were referred to as nutrition packs, rather than simply “chichirya,” and were intended to provide nutritional support to learners. 

THE BOTTOMLINE:

The post is MISLEADING. The items distributed were referred to as nutrition packs, not ordinary “chichirya.”