ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has allocated more than P11 million to support school feeding programs in Maguindanao, the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) announced Wednesday.

The funding will be used for the 2025-2026 Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) program, which aims to provide nutritious meals to students to improve their health and academic performance.

MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal and director general for Basic Education Abdullah Salik Jr. presented a check for P11,012,400 to Dr. Alma Abdula-Nor, the schools division superintendent for Maguindanao del Norte, at a ceremony held Tuesday.

The HGSF program will target 10,451 elementary students across 28 schools in 10 municipalities: 5,244 in Maguindanao del Norte and 5,207 in Maguindanao del Sur.

Iqbal said providing students with nutritious food helps not only their physical health but also their emotional and mental well-being.

“When the health of our children improves, of course, the quality of their education will also improve,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a separate effort to support students, the 104th Infantry “Para Sa Bayan” Battalion, in partnership with the Bato Balani Foundation, distributed more than 2,500 books to schools on Laminusa Island in Siasi, Sulu.

Brig. Gen. Alaric Avelino delos Santos, commander of the 1102nd Infantry “Ganarul” Brigade, said soldiers led by Lt. Col. Roy R. Dalumpines donated books to four schools, including Laminusa West Elementary School and Laminusa National High School.

The initiative, supported by local officials, school administrators, and teachers, also included a feeding program for the children. Delos Santos said the battalion plans to continue similar outreach activities in other communities.