CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela — Representative Brian Poe of FPJ Panday Bayanihan joined officials from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to showcase the “Home-Grown School Feeding” (HGSF) model as a blueprint for national expansion.
During a field visit to Cauayan North Central School on February 19, 2026, Poe highlighted the success of the pilot program, which directly links school meals to local farmer cooperatives.
Key Outcomes of the Cauayan Model:
- Educational Impact: Local officials reported measurable improvements in student attendance, nutrition, and academic performance, including reading levels.
- Economic Boost: The program provides stable market access for local farmers, incentivizing them to diversify crops and livestock.
- Local Commitment: The Cauayan City LGU has allocated P3 million annually for three years to support kitchen infrastructure and coordination.
- Scale of Reach: DepEd plans to implement a full year of feeding for all Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners nationwide, with a goal of moving toward universal coverage for K-3 students.
A Vision for the Future
Brian Poe emphasized that school feeding is a strategic investment in both education and agriculture. “My vision is that hopefully one day students won’t know what it’s like to not have a feeding program,” Poe said, noting that he will use the data from Cauayan to lobby for increased funding in the next budget cycle.
WFP officials noted that for the 2026–2027 school year, additional infrastructure funds are being earmarked to establish more central and school-based kitchens to support the “progressive universalization” of the program.