Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara reiterated his call for increased investment in farm schools, highlighting their role in integrating nutrition into education and providing agricultural training for rural students.

Angara cited that the Department of Education (DepEd) has expanded its Gulayan sa Paaralan Program to 44,965 schools this school year, a 50.6 percent increase from the 2022-2023 academic year.

The program supplies fresh, locally grown produce for the agency’s year-long school-based feeding program and reinforces nutrition education, particularly in underserved areas.

Schools use local resources and funding from the feeding program to grow organic vegetables that supplement school meals. These gardens also serve as outdoor classrooms, teaching students about agriculture, environmental responsibility and self-sufficiency, especially in rural and remote areas.

“When children learn where their food comes from and how it’s grown, they are more encouraged to eat nutritious food,” Angara said. “This isn’t just about vegetables. We are teaching discipline, cooperation, and concern for nature and others.”

As of 2025, 94 percent of public schools are implementing garden interventions. The budget for the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program has doubled from P10 million in 2021 to P20 million in 2024, with a projected P21.8 million for 2025, signaling DepEd’s commitment to the program’s growth.

Complementing this initiative is the expansion of farm schools, a concept envisioned by the late Senator Edgardo Angara and established through Republic Act 10618.

Currently, 152 farm schools are operating across four regions, offering agricultural training, technical skills and entrepreneurship education, particularly in rural communities.