The Senate has resumed legislative work after weeks of stalled proceedings, advancing priority measures focused on child nutrition, education access, and social protection under a special session.
Senator Bam Aquino filed Senate Bill No. 2272, or the “Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act,” which seeks to expand the government’s national nutrition program and address child stunting through amendments to Republic Act No. 11037.
Aquino moved for the immediate deliberation of the measure, linking nutrition to learning outcomes and education performance.
He said malnutrition directly affects a child’s ability to learn in school.
“Ang mga batang malusog ay mas may pagkakataong magtagumpay sa paaralan, maging produktibong bahagi ng ating workforce at makapag-ambag sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa,” Aquino said during plenary discussions, underscoring the long-term impact of nutrition on human capital development.
He added that learning is heavily affected when children are undernourished.
“Ang isang gutom na bata ay hindi makakapag-focus,” he said.
Aquino also stressed that addressing education challenges requires tackling underlying social conditions, including nutrition.
“Hindi po natin malulutas ang krisis sa edukasyon kung hindi po natin tututukan ang isa sa mga ugat nito, ang kakulangan sa nutrisyon,” he said.
The proposed measure seeks to expand and strengthen existing feeding and nutrition programs by improving coverage and coordination among government agencies involved in child welfare and education. It will be referred to the appropriate Senate committee for further deliberation.
Aquino said the goal of the measure is to ensure that hunger does not hinder learning in schools.
The bill is part of a broader legislative package on education and social protection being pursued in the Senate.
Aquino is principal sponsor of the Last Mile and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) Schools Act, which mandates infrastructure, access roads, and connectivity improvements for schools in remote communities.
He also supports the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which provides free higher education in state universities and colleges, as well as state-run institutions.
He is likewise backing reforms under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, which provides financial aid to individuals and families facing emergencies.
Other measures he supports include the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program, amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Act, and the establishment of a National Center for Geriatric Health.
The Senate is expected to continue committee deliberations on priority measures as it works through its legislative backlog.
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