Marcos Administration Prioritizes Child Health Through School Feeding Push

SANTIAGO CITY — President Marcos Jr. on Friday unveiled the Kaagapay Program at Patul Elementary School, marking a formal push by his administration to enhance child welfare through comprehensive feeding services in public schools. The initiative represents a centerpiece of the government's broader strategy to address malnutrition and improve health outcomes among the nation's student population.

The program encompasses the Home-Grown School Feeding modality, a key component of the School-Based Feeding Program that sources meals from local agricultural products and community resources. Officials said the approach aims to provide nutritious meals while simultaneously supporting local farmers and strengthening school-community ties.

During his inspection of the facility, the President emphasized that child health constitutes a fundamental pillar of his administration's education agenda. Beyond nutrition, the government plans to expand complementary services across public schools to address broader health and wellness needs of students from disadvantaged families.

Education officials indicated that the Kaagapay Program will scale up feeding operations nationwide, with plans to reach more public schools in underserved areas. The initiative seeks to combine immediate nutritional support with long-term investments in school infrastructure and health services.