ILOILO City — As public schools prepare to open for School Year 2025–2026 on June 16, the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 has assured parents that learners will have access to clean and nutritious food inside school campuses.
DepEd-6 said it is strictly implementing DepEd Order No. 13, s. 2017, which sets policies and guidelines on healthy food and beverage choices in schools and DepEd offices. This is part of the department’s effort to promote healthy eating habits and prevent illnesses among learners and personnel.
According to DepEd-6 information officer Hernani Escullar Jr., all school canteens are required to comply with the directive.
“They have to abide with that. Meaning nutritious ang food, wala sang junk food, wala sang soft drinks and the like nga somehow maka–affect sa health sang aton kabataan,” he said.
DepEd Order No. 13 outlines the following objectives:
* Make healthy food and beverage options available in schools.
* Introduce a food classification system based on local context.
* Guide schools in evaluating, marketing, and selling food and drinks.
* Ensure proper procurement of food items for school feeding programs.
Escullar explained that school canteens must provide a balanced “Go, Grow, and Glow” food selection during snack and lunch periods.
Canteen staff must also have valid health cards, and food preparation and sanitation practices must pass health standards.
For concerned parents, Escullar advised sending children to school with packed healthy meals as an added precaution.
“What we recommend gid kon ang isa ka ginikanan nagaduha-duha sa kon ano ang ginakaon sang ila bata, the best choice is pabalunan,” he added.
DepEd also stressed the importance of educating children at home about how to make healthy food choices in school.
Meanwhile, DepEd acknowledged that it has no jurisdiction over food stalls and vendors operating outside school gates. However, schools are encouraged to coordinate with barangay officials to ensure that these vendors have the necessary sanitary permits and health cards.
“What we can do is to coordinate with the barangay officials… kon puede ma-check kag ma-ensure naton nga ang ginabaligya sa kabataan naton ang tinlu,” Escullar said.
With World Food Safety Day observed on Saturday, June 7, Escullar underscored the joint responsibility of schools, parents, and vendors in keeping children’s food safe and healthy. He also appealed to vendors outside schools to serve nutritious meals, even if they are not under DepEd’s authority.
“Our parents play a vital role to ensure that children know how to discern between healthy and unhealthy food,” he said. “And we call on food vendors near schools to also serve healthy food to our learners.”/PN
