Senator Francis Pangilinan on Monday said the proposed 2026 national budget links child nutrition programs directly to income support initiatives for Filipino farmers.
He said public schools will be required to source milk from local dairy producers to improve student nutrition while providing stable markets for small-scale farmers.
Pangilinan said the policy aligns school feeding, early childhood development programs, and Sagip Saka principles that allow direct government procurement from local producers.
Budget documents show funding for the Philippine Carabao Center more than doubled to P2.08 billion, while the National Dairy Authority received a P2.38-billion allocation, largely for school milk feeding programs.
Pangilinan said sustained funding and coordination are vital, citing studies showing one in four Filipino children suffers from stunting linked to chronic malnutrition and poverty.
