Returning Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has introduced a bill that seeks to provide free breakfast to all public school children and daycare pupils across the country—using food sourced directly from local farmers and fisherfolk.
The proposed Free Breakfast Program and Sustainable Agriculture Act is one of Pangilinan’s top legislative priorities for the 20th Congress. It fulfills a campaign promise made during the 2025 midterm elections.
The bill mandates the daily serving of nutritious and fortified breakfast meals to students from daycare to Grade 12, in accordance with standards set by the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC). Meals must also be culturally appropriate and cater to regional tastes.
To boost the livelihood of local producers, the bill requires that at least 50% of the food for the feeding program be sourced from accredited farmers, fisherfolk, or their cooperatives. This measure aligns with the goals of the Sagip Saka Act, which Pangilinan also authored in a previous term.
The Department of Education (DepEd) will lead the program’s implementation, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) overseeing daycare centers.
Among Pangilinan’s other priority bills are proposals on banning the conversion of agricultural lands, establishing a separate Department of Fisheries, protecting mangroves and forests, regulating ticket scalping, and ensuring accountability in the use of confidential government funds.
Other senators also filed their top bills as the 20th Congress opened. Senator Rodante Marcoleta prioritized removing value-added tax on electricity sales and curbing LPG price hikes. Senator Raffy Tulfo pushed for laws against wage theft and abuse of piece-rate workers, and for requiring law enforcers to wear body cameras.
Meanwhile, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano filed bills focused on national values formation, banning online gambling ads, and creating a health passport system.
