Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso launched an expanded milk feeding program Monday at Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School, nearly tripling its reach to benefit 60,000 students.

The initiative, dubbed “YorMilk 2.0: Kaagapay ng Batang Maynila sa Paglaki,” scales up the city government’s original program, which previously served 21,000.

Domagoso said the expansion is a direct response to national malnutrition and childhood stunting, citing Department of Health data that highlights high stunting rates nationwide, including within the capital city.

“We can no longer deny or hide the state of our country regarding malnutrition,” Domagoso said. “Do not hide it, do not deny it. Let us face it, let us fight it.”

The program is designed to ensure continuous nutritional supplementation for children progressing from daycare through kindergarten and into the first grade. To supply the initiative, the city is purchasing milk directly from local dairy farmers to support agricultural livelihoods alongside student health.

National Dairy Authority administrator Marcus Antonius T. Andaya said the program’s growth reflects the success of the first phase. He cited that the initiative provides a consistent market for local dairy farmers who previously struggled to find buyers once seasonal government feeding contracts concluded.

Andaya recalled that Domagoso previously committed to absorbing the farmers’ surplus production. “If you are just going to throw the milk away, bring it to Manila, I will buy it, and I will give it to the children of Manila,” Andaya quoted the mayor as saying.

Andaya, who noted he personally benefited from a similar school milk program as a third-grade student, praised the city’s approach. “Even though you are a city boy and not a farmer, they see that you have a heart for the farmers,” Andaya said.