The Department of Education (DepEd) emphasized the decisive role of food support during its summer programs in improving reading outcomes among early grade learners.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara noted that the agency's 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 and the National Learning Camp.

“Food is not just an incentive; it is the foundation of learning. When a child has energy, they are more ready to read, listen, and comprehend,” Angara said.

Focused on early grade readers, the Bawat Bata Makababasa Program recorded an 80.83 percent 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 percent increase in Grade 3 learners reading at grade level in Filipino, and 26.04 percent in English, while the number of “low emerging” readers dropped significantly.

Under the National Learning Camp, more than 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 local government unit 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.

The private sector also played a crucial role in 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.