Village Connect
Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), the social development arm of Jollibee Group, has joined forces with the Department of Education (DepEd) to expand the implementation of the central kitchen model for the School-based Feeding Program (SBFP). This initiative, aimed at alleviating hunger among school-aged children, was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and JGF President Gisela Tiongson on December 11, 2024.
Through this partnership, JGF will share its expertise and provide training for public schools, local government units, and community partners to establish central kitchens under its Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) Program. The model centralizes meal preparation and distribution, making the process more efficient while feeding thousands of students across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Since the BLT Program’s inception in 2007, JGF has addressed hunger and its impact on school attendance and drop-out rates. The shift to the central kitchen model in 2016, alongside DepEd’s nationwide SBFP rollout, has further strengthened this mission. To date, JGF has helped establish 41 central kitchens, serving over 270,000 students nationwide.
“The BLT Kitchens make feeding programs more efficient and scalable,” said JGF President Gisela Tiongson. “By partnering with DepEd, local governments, private institutions, and parent volunteers, we can fight hunger and empower students to stay in school and achieve their full potential.”
To sustain the initiative, JGF will establish training hubs at 15 existing BLT partner schools, creating centers for learning and capacity building. Additionally, the foundation will produce guidebooks and video materials to standardize processes for DepEd and BLT partners.
So far, 29 DepEd personnel have undergone a four-day training program led by JGF, equipping them to guide local governments and schools in establishing and managing central kitchens. These trained personnel will ensure the initiative’s sustainability, offering technical support and expertise to maximize its impact.
This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to addressing hunger and ensuring better educational outcomes for Filipino children, setting the stage for a brighter and healthier future.
