Manila, Jan. 16 -- Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday assured that the 2026 national budget has increased allocations for the expansion of feeding programs in public schools and child development centers (CDCs).

"Mahalagang tutukan natin ang kalusugan at nutrisyon ng mga mag-aaral, lalo na't may malalim na ugnayan ito sa kanilang kakayahan (It is important to focus on the health and nutrition of learners, especially since it is deeply related to their skills)," Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, said in a statement.

He noted that under the 2026 budget, the Department of Education's (DepEd) School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) will increase the number of feeding days from 120 to 200 this year.

The SBFP, expecte...