DepEd strengthens feeding, ARAL implementation

Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Friday inspected the rollout of the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) and the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) initiative in two public schools in Las Piñas City.

Angara visited Moonwalk Elementary School and Talon Elementary School, both recognized for significant gains in literacy and strong delivery of feeding services.

During the visit, Angara assisted in distributing hot meals, observed ARAL sessions, and held dialogues with teachers to gather ground-level insights on interventions that can be scaled across divisions.

“We need to hear the stories in every school. When the data from below is clear, the support from above is more accurate. Here we see what really works for the learners," Angara said.

Moonwalk Elementary School, cited as the division’s 2nd Best SBFP Implementer, has 789 feeding beneficiaries this school year and launched ARAL tutorials last September, where it demonstrated strong program innovation through a reading initiative integrated into feeding sessions.

With 1:11 tutors-learner ratio in the said school, teachers said feeding and tutorial pairing helped improve attendance and reading stamina for the most vulnerable learners.

Meanwhile, Talon Elementary School, ranked 1st in Las Piñas Schools Division Office in the National Achievement Test, posted strong ARAL outcomes. The school’s ARAL cohort fell from an initial 575 learners at the beginning of the school year to 233 after the middle of school year assessment, meaning 342 learners — or about 71 percent — exited the program after reaching grade-level reading expectations.

Talon’s gains were credited to structured morning and midday ARAL sessions, consistent progress monitoring, and dedicated learning spaces that support uninterrupted literacy work.

Angara said these improvements will be supported and scaled under the proposed 2026 budget.

"This is the first time that the implementation is nationwide in all public schools. So, each student has their own tutor in the public schools that are in need," Angara said.

"Struggling readers, meaning it's hard to read. And here, maybe there are different implementations in different schools. But here, the one we went to in Las Piñas, Talon Elementary School, is one of the most successful, I think, because in the beginning of the school year, their result was 570+," the DepEd chief added.

Angara said ARAL program aims that by the end of the school year, there will be no more struggling readers.

"That's really the intention of the ARAL program. One good thing here is that they have a good ratio," he said.

The Senate-approved General Appropriations Bill raises the School MOOE to P60.89 billion, up from P49.76 billion in the 2025 GAA, to bolster day-to-day school operations and provide localized interventions.

The SBFP, on the other hand, is set at P28.66 billion, enough to make Kindergarten and Grade 1 feeding universal for the first time. Feeding duration will also extend to 200 days, while targeted feeding will support junior high school and senior high school severely wasted and wasted learners, and adolescent pregnant learners.

The expanded SBFP in the 2026 budget boosts learner nutrition while strengthening local agriculture. Milk is now sourced from local farmers, and food products come from DOST-FNRI–certified suppliers, ensuring demand from homegrown producers and cooperatives. Angara also renewed his call to amend the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act (RA 11037) to expand beneficiary coverage and feeding days, establish Central Kitchens, and secure steady supplies.

These program directions align with the Tatak Pinoy Law (RA 11981), which raises the value of Philippine products by expanding and upgrading domestic industries. Angara noted that this direction stands on the foundation of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (RA 8435) authored by his father, the late Senator Ed Angara, which modernized local food systems and strengthened the producers now powering programs like the SBFP.

ARAL expansion will be backed by strengthened allocations for learning resources, tutor training and compensation, and monitoring.

Angara also emphasized that local government units collaboration is vital to sustain gains, pointing to the updated joint circular on the special education fund that permits local government units support for early-grade literacy, feeding, and academic recovery interventions.

The DepEd chief also noted that the agency will continue to assess program implementation, ensure accurate ground-level data informs policy, and make sure more schools receive the targeted support needed to sustain improvements in attendance, nutrition, and foundational skills.