DepEd eyes surplus vegetables for school feeding program amid farm produce dumping

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 19, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the Department of Education (DepEd) is exploring ways to incorporate surplus fresh vegetables into its school feeding program, following reports of farmers dumping unsold produce due to a lack of buyers.

The statement comes after truckloads of carrots and cabbage were reportedly dumped along a roadside in Tublay, Benguet, with farmers attributing the waste to an oversupply of vegetables and insufficient market demand.

“We want to help our farmers while ensuring that there are nutritious and hot meals in schools for our learners,” Angara said.

Feeding program reaches 4.6 million learners

DepEd’s expanded school-based feeding program currently serves 4.6 million beneficiaries, including Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners, according to Angara. He said the department is looking into ways to channel surplus vegetables into the program, subject to food safety requirements.

The proposal would potentially create a direct link between farmers struggling to sell excess produce and a nationwide feeding initiative that already reaches millions of students, though DepEd has not yet outlined a specific mechanism or timeline for implementation.

Call for private sector support

Angara also encouraged companies and organizations to support the effort through DepEd’s Adopt-a-School Program, which allows private partners to purchase vegetables directly from farmers and donate the produce to schools for the feeding program.

He noted that qualified private partners who participate can avail themselves of a 150 percent tax deduction under the Adopt-a-School Act, an incentive intended to encourage private sector involvement in supporting public education initiatives.