BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Backed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s push for stronger learning recovery and child nutrition, the Department of Education (DepEd) has reported that food support during its 2025 summer programs played a decisive role in improving reading outcomes among early grade learners.

In a report summarizing the outcomes of its summer programs, DepEd noted that feeding interventions, such as snacks and small incentives, played a critical role in sustaining attendance and learner focus, particularly in the Bawat Bata Makababasa Program (BBMP) and National Learning Camp (NLC).  

“Ang pagkain ay hindi lang insentibo, ito ay pundasyon ng pagkatuto,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said. “Kapag may lakas ang katawan, mas handa ang bata sa pagbabasa, pakikinig, at pag-unawa.” 

The BBMP, focused on early grade readers, recorded an 80.83% average attendance rate from its more than 70,000 beneficiaries over a five-week period. In schools where snacks and reward-based systems were in place, teachers reported improved participation, reduced absenteeism, and greater learner engagement. Post-program assessments showed a 32.85% increase in Grade 3 learners reading at grade level in Filipino, and 26.04% in English, while the number of “Low Emerging” readers dropped significantly. 

Meanwhile, under the National Learning Camp (NLC), over 1.13 million learners across 157 school divisions benefited from a 15-day learning intervention that focused on Reading and Mathematics. All participating learners were provided with hot meals and nutritious food products throughout the program, helping ensure consistent attendance and cognitive readiness during the sessions.  

Field reports from various regions indicated that the provision of food support — whether through school-based snacks, home-distributed meals, or LGU assistance — helped stabilize attendance and learner morale. In some divisions, local governments supported food distribution logistics, while school officials integrated feeding into daily instructional time. 

DepEd also acknowledged the growing role of the private sector in supporting the summer programs. Several companies, foundations, and civic organizations provided in-kind support such as snacks, hygiene kits, and reading materials, in partnership with local school divisions. These contributions were coordinated with field offices to reach underserved schools and incentivize consistent learner participation. 

DepEd said the positive correlation between food support and learning outcomes reinforces the value of integrated nutrition and education efforts, a key policy direction under President Marcos’ agenda for basic education. 

“Sa bawat batang natutong bumasa dahil busog ang tiyan at buo ang suporta, doon natin tunay na makikita ang saysay ng edukasyon, may malasakit at may pagkalinga,” Angara said.

*All Photos from DepEd