BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s mandate for food security in schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to strengthen its programs to ensure learners have access to nutritious meals, particularly through the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP), Gulayan sa Paaralan, and Farm School initiatives.

This initiative is strongly supported by the administration of President Marcos, who recently led the official kickoff ceremony for Filipino Food Month 2025, celebrated under the theme “Sarap ng Pagkaing Pilipino, Yaman ng Ating Kasaysayan, Kultura, at Pagkatao.” In his message during the event, the President emphasized the value of Filipino cuisine as a reflection of national identity and community care.

“Mga kababayan, sa pamamagitan ng ating pagkain, matutuklasan natin ang ating pagka-Pilipino: Malikhain, matatag, at may malasakit sa kapwa. Malikhain, dahil nagagawa nating putahe ang mga pangkaraniwang sangkap. Matatag, dahil kahit sa panahon ng kakulangan, nagagawa pa rin nating ipagdiwang ang kahit kakaunting pagkain. May malasakit sa kapwa, dahil sa tuwing may salu-salo, lagi nating naalalang magdala ng pagkain sa ating mga kapitbahay,” the President said.

Filipino Food Month, officially declared through Presidential Proclamation No. 469, s. 2018, serves to promote, preserve, and celebrate the rich culinary traditions of the Philippines. The month-long celebration reinforces the role of Filipino food in shaping national identity, strengthening communities, and sustaining the next generation.

From Farm to Feeding Tables

In Negros Occidental, Ramon Torres Malingin Farm School (RTMFS) is also leading efforts in agricultural integration and food production. According to Principal Roger Raymundo, the school has begun incorporating its harvests into its feeding program. Surrounding the school are rows of okra, eggplants, and bottle gourds, while a two-hectare rice field further supports its food sufficiency goals.

“Dito itinuturo sa bata iyong tamang pagtatamin at tyaka iyong side na pwede silang magkaroon ng kita later kasi ang pagtatanim is magiging hanapbuhay nila kaya pwedeng i-consider iyong curriculum ng farm school na magiging lifelong learning ng mga learners natin. Bukod dito, farming can also sustain them, hindi ka magugutom kung marunong kang magtanim”, Principal Raymundo shared.

The school’s farming efforts do not only equip learners with valuable technical-vocational skills in agriculture but also support the provision of nutritious meals to students, thereby reinforcing the link between food production, education, and health.

SCES’ success in SBFP

Sta. Cristina Elementary School (SCES) in the Schools Division Office of Dasmariñas City, Cavite, is one of many public schools actively implementing the SBFP. Principal Elena Bayan proudly reported a 93.80% success rate for the school’s SBFP implementation this year with 810 of 812 learner-beneficiaries having been categorized as nutritionally adequate after undergoing the feeding program.

“Ang success ng aming SBFP ay makikita sa pagtutulungan. We have a great support system, we have our dependable Gulayan sa Paaralan, and we have our community eager to see changes in our learners,” Principal Bayan stated.

The use of school-grown produce in the preparation of traditional Filipino meals reflects DepEd’s commitment to sustainable, locally sourced nutrition solutions for learners, in alignment with the broader goals of food security and agricultural education.

Across the country, SBFP-implementing schools continue to prepare traditional Filipino dishes such as ginisang munggo, lugaw, and sopas—meals that are not only cost-effective and nutritious but are also deeply rooted in Filipino culture and easily accepted by young learners.

For schools like Ramon Torres Malingin Farm School and Sta. Cristina Elementary School, the celebration of Filipino Food Month affirms their advocacy of feeding with compassion, teaching with purpose, and nurturing a generation of healthy, well-equipped learners.

“Through DepEd’s integrated approach that combines nutrition, agriculture, and values education, the spirit of Filipino hospitality and care is kept alive in every meal served,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

*All Photos from DepEd