DILG orders LGUs to strengthen feeding programs for malnourished children

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, directed local government units (LGUs) nationwide to intensify feeding programs for undernourished children as part of efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition.

Through Memorandum Circular No. 2026-053, the DILG called on governors, mayors, barangay chairpersons and local nutrition action officers to ensure the effective implementation of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The directive supports Republic Act No. 11037, or the Masustansiyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, which seeks to address childhood malnutrition through sustained nutrition interventions.

Administered by the DSWD, the program provides nutritious meals to children aged 2 to 5 enrolled in LGU-run child development centers.

Beneficiaries will receive hot meals, fresh milk or fresh milk-based food products for more than two months to improve their nutritional intake.

The DILG said LGUs must also ensure that participating children undergo nutritional assessments and receive appropriate health interventions, including medical examinations, deworming, vaccination and micronutrient supplementation.

Local health offices will facilitate these services to monitor children's nutritional status and determine whether additional interventions are needed.

To accelerate implementation, the department directed LGUs to coordinate with DSWD field offices and expedite the signing of memoranda of agreement to facilitate fund transfers and feeding activities.

Feeding during disasters

The DILG emphasized that feeding programs must continue even during disasters and other emergencies.

In affected communities, LGUs must arrange home deliveries of meals or establish community kitchens to ensure that children continue receiving nutritional assistance despite disruptions.

The directive also supports the administration's efforts to strengthen early childhood nutrition and development.

During a Senate budget hearing, the DILG committed to accelerating the implementation of Republic Act No. 12199, or the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act, including the use of standardized ready-to-eat meals in feeding programs for children aged 5 and younger.

The department stressed that sustained coordination among national agencies, LGUs and local communities is essential to ensuring that nutritional assistance reaches children most at risk of hunger and malnutrition.