Pangilinan eyes flood control budget to fund Libreng Almusal program

Biel Jose Catipon

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan pushed his Libreng Almusal Bill, which aims to improve student nutrition and attendance, and proposed reallocating a portion of the flood control funds as its source during the Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing on September 11.

Pangilinan, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, co-chaired the hearing with the Committees on Basic Education, Local Government, and Finance.

“Base na rin doon sa ililipat yun ilang pondo ng flood control dahil ito ay malulustay lamang at hindi kailangan o kaya ay inaayos pa, ilagay natin sa ganitong klaseng programa,” Pangilinan said, referring to his proposed free breakfast initiative.

Senate Bill No. 219 seeks to establish a Free Breakfast Program for all public school children from daycare to Grade 12 nationwide.

Senator Win Gatchalian then said that ghost projects confirmed in a recent Blue Ribbon Committee hearing highlight the need to prevent a recurrence in 2026, adding that unless the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) addresses corruption and system flaws, the Php 270 billion fund should instead be reallocated to education.

In the hearing, Pangilinan also shared narratives from public school teachers to highlight issues in the existing school-based feeding programs of the Department of Education (DepEd).

“Madalas walang almusal, madalas wala ring tanghalian. Kaya madalas din nag-aambag ang mga teacher ng pagkain para sa mga estudyante,” Pangilinan said, citing a teacher’s experience.

He added that, according to another teacher, some parents no longer answer the survey for the program because it targets only nutritionally deficient students, and they feel ashamed to admit their children are hungry or that their families are struggling, as it makes them appear even poorer.

“Sabi nila, malaking incentive din sa mag-aaral ang predictable na schedule ng pagkain. Dahil sa karanasan nila, ganadong pumasok ang mga bata kung may pagkain silang aabutan sa eskwelahan. Talagang papasok kasi wala ngang pagkain sa bahay…,” Pangilinan added.

The senator also noted that the bill complements his 2019 Sagip Saka Act or RA 11321, which allows government units to source food directly from farmers and fisherfolk.

The proposed program mandates the direct procurement of at least 50 percent of the feeding initiative’s produce from accredited local farmers, fisherfolk, cooperatives, and associations to ensure fresh, quality food, support local economies, and uphold the Sagip Saka Act.

He pointed out that Deped allocates about Php 11.7 billion for its existing feeding programs.

“Kahit na 30 percent na lang o 20 percent ay bibilhin direkta sa ating magsasaka at mangingisda, malaking bagay. Hindi lang sila dagdag kita, masustansya pa ang mabibili at maipapakain sa ating mga anak at sariwa ang kanilang magiging pagkain,” Pangilinan said.

Gatchalian also mentioned that the President supports reallocating the funds to education and health, stressing the link between education, nutrition, and health.

The proposed Free Breakfast Program and Sustainable Agriculture Act is among Pangilinan’s top 10 priority legislative measures for the 20th Congress.