Senatorial candidate and Makati Mayor Abby Binay announced Monday that she will push for free healthy snacks and meals in schools to address student malnutrition. Binay said the initiative would mitigate the impact of hunger on academic performance.

“Proper nutrition is essential for effective learning. No matter how skilled the teachers or how adequate the school supplies, students will struggle to absorb lessons if they’re hungry and malnourished,” Binay said.

She stressed that efforts to reverse declining education quality must start with basics like nutrition, which is critical to child development.

“Let’s focus on fundamentals first. Prioritize youth health before distributing tablets or computers. Even modern school buildings won’t be effective if we don’t address malnutrition issues like stunting and wasting among students,” she said.

Binay pledged to advocate for comprehensive solutions, including a nationwide feeding program targeting at-risk children, especially those from poor urban and rural families.

“Malnutrition requires a multi-stakeholder approach. National and local governments, barangays, and the private sector must collaborate to sustain large-scale programs,” she said.

She cited Makati’s Project FEED (Food for Excellent Education and Development), launched in March 2023, which provides free nutritious snacks to public elementary students.