Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is calling on private companies to join hands with the government in addressing hunger and learning challenges among students through his proposed Libreng Almusal (Free Breakfast) initiative.
Speaking at a joint Senate hearing on September 11, Pangilinan emphasized that feeding programs are critical for children’s health and academic performance, especially in public schools. He proposed tapping corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of fast-food giants like Jollibee and McDonald’s to help sustain and expand the initiative.
“Part of it would be private sector–public sector synergy in augmenting the program with their own interventions,” Pangilinan said.
The proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 219 or the Libreng Almusal Act, seeks to provide nutritious breakfast meals to kindergarten and senior high school students in public schools across the country. The joint hearing was conducted by the Committees on Basic Education, Agriculture, Local Government, and Finance.
The senator noted that similar food donation mandates exist in European countries, and suggested that legislation in the Philippines could allow private firms to donate food, services, or funding to feeding programs in exchange for tax deductions.
He also highlighted how the initiative would benefit local farmers and fisherfolk, with government agencies and LGUs sourcing food directly from them under the Sagip Saka Act, a law Pangilinan authored in 2019.
Beyond just addressing hunger, Pangilinan sees Libreng Almusal as part of a broader effort to improve food security, raise farmers’ incomes, and create a more inclusive economy through partnerships across sectors.
