Philippines introduces milk program in schools

PHILIPPINES – The National Dairy Authority (NDA) and partner agencies have launched a P3-billion milk program to provide locally produced milk to schoolchildren nationwide as part of efforts to address child malnutrition while creating a stable market for Filipino dairy farmers.

The milk component of the 2026 School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) was launched Monday at Quirino Elementary School, Quezon City, with the aim of bringing locally produced milk to approximately 4.6 million learners nationwide.

“This program allows us to address two important priorities at the same time: ensuring that our children receive nutritious milk and creating a stable market for our local dairy farmers,” NDA Administrator Marcus Andaya said.

Procurement is being undertaken through the Sagip Saka Act, or Republic Act No. 11321, which allows direct purchase of agricultural products from farmers, fisherfolk, and their organizations.

All kindergarten and Grade 1 learners are covered by the 2026 feeding program, while wasted and severely wasted learners in Grades 2 to 6 will continue to receive nutritional support.

Children in community day-care centers are likewise covered by complementary government feeding programs.

Beneficiaries will receive fresh, pasteurized, and sterilized milk, including locally produced cow’s milk and carabao’s milk, from the milk component of the program.

Milk provides essential nutrients such as calcium, protein, and energy that are important for children’s growth and development, the NDA emphasized.

Andaya noted that the expansion of the milk feeding program under the Sagip Saka Act is expected to create stronger and more stable demand for locally produced milk, encouraging dairy farmers to increase production and invest in herd expansion and productivity improvements.

The government’s prioritization of locally produced milk is also consistent with the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, or Republic Act No. 11037.

It provides for the inclusion of milk in the government’s supplementary feeding program and supports the procurement of locally produced agricultural products.

The initiative comes as the country’s local dairy industry continues to expand. In the first half of the year, local milk production reached 25.38 million liters, up 21.2 percent from 20.94 million liters during the same period in 2025, according to data from the NDA.

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