Makati expands student support with rice aid, meals, cash incentives

Insider Spotlight

• Makati will provide eligible public school students with five kilograms of rice monthly for 10 months under a city ordinance
• The city is introducing student cash incentives worth P3,500 to P7,000 through vouchers alongside its nutrition programs
• Officials are expanding healthy meal initiatives as the local schools division reports a rise in overweight public high school students
  
  
  
  

Makati City is expanding its student welfare programs by introducing a monthly rice subsidy, cash incentives, and enhanced nutrition initiatives aimed at improving learning outcomes and supporting families.

The rollout, announced by the city government on Sept. 2, starts with daycare learners and forms part of a broader strategy to ensure students receive adequate nutrition alongside access to education. Mayor Nancy Binay said the initiatives recognize the close link between children's health and academic performance.

"We invest in our children’s nutrition, we are also investing in their education, their health, and the future of our city. No child should have to learn on an empty stomach. We want our students to come to school ready to learn, grow, and dream bigger," the city's chief executive said in a statement on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026.

The big picture

Under City Ordinance No. 2025-A-024, students from daycare through grade 12, including learners under the Special Needs Education (SNED) program, will receive five kilograms of rice each month for 10 months during the school year.

The Makati Schools Division currently has 34,631 enrollees from pre-kindergarten to senior high school, highlighting the potential reach of the program. According to the city, this is the first time Makati has provided free rice assistance specifically for students.

Beyond rice assistance, the city will also introduce voucher-based cash incentives worth P3,500 for learners from pre-kindergarten to grade 6 and P7,000 for students in grades 7 to 12.

Why it matters

Makati is also expanding its Healthy Baon initiative, which provides kindergarten to grade 12 learners, including SNED students and Higher School ng UMak students, with either a bento meal or a pastry set on alternating weeks.

The nutrition push comes as the Department of Education-Makati Schools Division reported a four percent increase in overweight students in Makati public high schools during School Year 2025–2026.

"We are choosing fresh, balanced, and thoughtfully prepared meals because that is what our children truly need. This is not about creating excitement over a new menu. This is about building healthier habits that can last a lifetime," Binay said.

What’s next

The city said it will continue providing free school uniforms, school supplies, footwear, health and wellness kits, and rain gear alongside the new nutrition and financial assistance programs.

"By nourishing young minds today, the city is helping build healthier learners, stronger families, and a more prepared and empowered generation of Makati citizens," Binay said. — Daxim L. Lucas | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma