Manila: More than 1.5 million children enrolled in child development centers (CDCs) and supervised neighborhood play (SNP) were served by the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) in 2025. The SFP is implemented in coordination with local government units (LGUs) to improve the nutrition and health of children across the country.

According to Philippines News Agency, the SFP served a total of 1,587,295 children nationwide last year with a budget of over PHP5 billion. Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao stated in a news release on Tuesday that the Marcos administration is committed to improving the nutritional status of children by strengthening the SFP.

The SFP offers nutritious meals to children aged 3 to 5 years who are enrolled in CDCs, and children aged 2 to 4 years in SNPs, using indigenous or locally-produced food equivalent to one-third of the Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake (RENI). Children receive at least one fortified meal for a period of not less than 120 days each year.

Dumlao highlighted that the SFP is part of the agency's contributions to the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program and Republic Act No. 11037, also known as the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act. Last year, the DSWD increased the cost per hot meal from PHP15 to PHP25 to enhance nutritional value, aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s priorities to improve child development programs and ensure food security.

The SFP also includes nutrition and health education to enhance the knowledge, attitude, and practices of children, parents, and caregivers in sustaining the children's nutritional status. Under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, the DSWD received a budget allocation of more than PHP9.5 billion to meet the nutritional needs of over 1.8 million day-care children nationwide through the SFP.