The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday underscored the importance of access to safe drinking water and clean sanitation facilities in schools to ensure learners’ nutrition.
In a statement, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said healthy school learning environments are “foundational” in addressing learning gaps among children.
“You cannot separate a child’s physical health from their ability to learn,” he said, noting that these facilities are deemed “critical” to help enhance learners’ performance in classrooms.
“Feeding programs work best when paired with clean water to drink, safe toilets to use, and daily handwashing habits that keep kids healthy and in school.”
The DepEd chief made the remark as the agency participated in the Global Child Nutrition Forum 2026 in Lusaka, Zambia, from Nov. 2 to 5.
The Philippine presentation gained strong interest from international counterparts, particularly delegates from Burundi, Ethiopia, Lesotho, and the host nation, Zambia.
“Our work is far from over, and we still have many schools to reach. But seeing other nations look closely at the Philippine experience affirms that our push for safer, cleaner, and healthier schools is on the right track,” Angara said.
During the event, DepEd Assistant Secretary for Governance and Operations Roger Masapol particularly discussed the government’s efforts to institutionalize the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) Program since its launch in 2016.
“What we shared in Zambia is a decade of hard-earned progress, proving that when we invest in basic hygiene and sanitation, we are directly investing in our learners’ nutrition and future,” Angara added.
Under the WinS program, a practical Three-Star Approach is being utilized to assess and guide public schools to meet quality standards on essential water, sanitation, and hygiene.
These include key benchmarks like safe water, clean toilets, daily group handwashing and toothbrushing, menstrual hygiene management, deworming, and health promotion.
Under the system, a one-star rating means basic sanitation and hygiene practices are in place; two stars demonstrate improved facilities and active management systems; while the highest three-star distinction recognizes schools for their sustained full compliance across all health and hygiene standards.
From School Year 2025 to 2026, the DepEd recorded a staggering surge of 62 percent in schools securing at least a one-star rating, much higher than the 9 percent baseline over the past decade.
About 14 schools, meanwhile, attained the highest three-star distinction for the said school year.
Besides the WinsS program, another major component of the DepEd’s School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) is the Gulayan sa Paaralan (School Gardens) Program.
Through this integrated approach, the agency ensures that hot meals sourced from school and community gardens are supported by clean water and proper sanitation to maximize the nutritional value for learners. (PNA)
