Nograles proposes free breakfast program in Davao schools amid rising hunger rates

Former Civil Service Commission Chair and Davao representative Karlo Nograles on Thursday called for urgent action to address hunger and malnutrition in Davao City and proposed a free breakfast program for the city’s public schools, citing alarming new data showing that 27.3% of families in Mindanao experienced involuntary hunger in the past three months.

“The hunger rate in Mindanao is now as high as the national average. That means more than one in four families are going hungry—and we are seeing it here in Davao. This is not just a statistic. This is a daily reality for too many of our fellow Dabawenyos,” said Nograles, referring to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

Nograles, who previously served as chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger, said that hunger and poor nutrition must be treated as urgent local priorities—not just national ones.

“We see children going to school without breakfast. Workers report to their jobs on empty stomachs. Families are skipping meals to make ends meet. No city can claim to be future-ready if its people are hungry,” he said.

Nograles proposed the establishment of a free daily breakfast program in Davao City’s public schools to address food insecurity among students and improve learning outcomes.

According to Nograles “nutrition is linked to everything—education, productivity, health. Giving students a nutritious breakfast every morning is one of the simplest, smartest things we can do. This program can improve attendance, reduce dropout rates, and help children focus and thrive in school.”

He added that this initiative can be implemented through partnerships with local farmers and cooperatives, ensuring that food is not only nutritious but also sourced locally.

The longtime public servant pointed out that “this is a win-win for our communities. We feed our children, we support our farmers, and we strengthen our local economy.”

Nograles emphasized that his proposal builds on his years of experience crafting and coordinating anti-hunger programs at the national level. As Zero Hunger Chair, he worked with agencies like the Department of Agriculture, DepEd, DSWD, and DTI to align government efforts and launch nutrition-sensitive feeding programs and food systems reforms.

“The same knowledge and experience we applied nationally can now be brought to the city level. Davao deserves a comprehensive nutrition program—one that reaches every barangay, every school, and every family in need,” he stressed.

Nograles also welcomed ideas and initiatives from civil society and other stakeholders, saying that fighting hunger is a shared responsibility.

“We should be open to all proposals that promote health and nutrition, especially among children. A healthy Davao is a more productive and more united Davao. Food security must be a cornerstone of our city’s future.”