THE PILOT implementation of the school-based feeding program in selected elementary schools in Davao City is set to start for School Year 2026-2027, a lawmaker here said.
Proponent councilor Antonette Prinsipe said the memorandum of agreement between the city government and the Department of Education (DepEd) is being fast-tracked and is in the City Legal Office.
“Perhaps in the succeeding sessions, we will present the memorandum of agreement between Deped and the city, and we endeavor to implement the pilot of the school-based feeding program for the incoming school year,” Councilor Antoinette Prinsipe said during the Pulong Pulong sa Dabawenyos on Tuesday.
The feeding program is dubbed Project ALAGA, where ALAGA stands for “Advancing Learners through Accessible, Guaranteed, and Adequate nutrition.”
The city government, through the Local School Board, has earmarked P20 million to augment the existing budget of the DepEd for the program.
Instead of the usual NutriBuns and milk, the city government will assist in a school-based feeding program in which hot meals will be provided for the learners.
The program was initially planned with a central kitchen model, which will be located in Sta. Ana Elementary School, but due to the city’s geographical scope, will now follow a hybrid approach.
Santa Ana is the selected school district which will serve as a central kitchen for satellite schools within that district: Sta Ana ES in Brgy 28-C; Agdao ES in Brgy Kapitan Monteverde; Cong. Manuel M. Garcia ES in Brgy Leon Garcia; Jose Rizal ES, Manuel Roxas in 28-C, and Zonta ES In 23-C.
Meanwhile, elementary schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) will have their own on-site kitchens. These include schools: Baksarpa Elementary School (Barangay Sumimao); Malakeba Elementary School (Barangay Bantol); Manawang Elementary School (Barangay Salaysay); Tagaibo Elementary School (Barangay Malamba); Kabangbang Elementary School (Barangay Gumitan); Sumilop and Upian Elementary School from (Barangay Marilog Proper).
The schools in GIDA will be implementing a universal feeding program from Kindergarten to Grade 6, while in Sta. Ana, only students identified as malnourished or severely wasted will be included.
The final number of students will depend on enrollment figures for the 2026–2027 school year; currently, the program is using 2025–2026 data as a baseline.
Planning and menu development occurred between late 2025 and early 2026, with kitchen staff training for the food sanitation and hygiene practices scheduled for May 2026.
