IN a bid to rescue millions of young Filipinos from the lingering grips of child hunger and stunting, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is placing local governments (LGUs) at the frontlines of a nationwide battle for child nutrition.
A new directive issued through Memorandum Circular 2026-053 by the DILG ordered provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, barangay captains (punong barangay), and local nutrition action officers to immediately step up their local feeding initiatives so that no child is robbed of proper nourishment during their crucial early development years.
The directive directly operationalizes Republic Act 11037, or the Masustansiyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, a cornerstone law designed to eradicate malnutrition among Filipino children through sustained, community-level dietary interventions.
At the core of this effort is the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in close partnership with LGUs. The program targets vulnerable toddlers and children aged 2 to 5 years old enrolled in LGU-run Child Development Centers (CDCs).
Under the expanded guidelines, enrolled children will receive free, highly nutritious hot meals alongside fresh milk or milk-based food products for over two months. Beyond filling empty stomachs, the initiative is intentionally structured to boost local economies by creating direct opportunities for local farmers and dairy producers to supply the food and milk used in the program.
However, local officials are being instructed to look beyond the dining table. The DILG emphasized that the feeding initiative must serve as a gateway to comprehensive healthcare. Local health offices are mandated to conduct regular nutritional assessments and ensure every child receives critical health intervention – including full medical examinations, deworming, routine vaccinations, and essential micronutrient supplementation. These parallel health checks will allow LGUs to meticulously track each child’s growth and intervene swiftly if severe malnutrition persists.
To remove bureaucratic roadblocks and accelerate implementation, the DILG ordered LGUs to immediately coordinate with Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Offices to finalize Memoranda of Agreement (MOA). These agreements will fast-track the release of funds and streamline the distribution of daily feeding activities straight to barangay centers.
Crucially, the DILG made it clear that disaster or climate emergencies will no longer be an excuse for interrupted feeding schedules. When typhoons or calamities strike, LGUs are required to maintain continuous food assistance by either delivering hot meals directly to children’s homes or activating emergency community kitchens.
This aggressive anti-hunger drive aligns directly with President Marcos’ overarching mandate to prioritize early childhood nutrition and holistic human development. During recent Senate budget hearings, the DILG further reaffirmed its commitment to accelerate the implementation of Republic Act 12199, or the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act, by integrating standardized, ready-to-eat meals into feeding programs for children five years old and below.
Underscoring that the fight against stunting and chronic hunger cannot be won by national agencies alone, the DILG reiterated that LGUs hold the ultimate key to giving every Filipino child a healthy, strong start in life.