AS the nation observes the 50th year of National Nutrition Month, there is an urgent need for society to rally behind the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028. This initiative aims to enhance children’s nutrition, address stunting, and reverse the rise of childhood overweight and obesity, according to the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Stunting impacts 26 percent of children under 5 years old, leading to poor cognitive development, educational performance, and adverse long-term outcomes such as lower wages and reduced productivity. Since 2003, childhood overweight and obesity rates have nearly tripled, reaching a “high” classification by global standards. Micronutrient deficiencies, including shortages of iron, iodine, and vitamin A, also affect pregnant and lactating women as well as children. Families face challenges in providing the nutritious and varied diets needed for young children to thrive. A UNICEF study reveals that the Philippines is among the countries where 65 percent of children live in severe food poverty, consuming only two of eight essential food groups.
Stakeholders – including government, local government units, nongovernment organizations, businesses, civil society, and communities – have endorsed the PPAN, which outlines a strategy through 2028. However, significant efforts are needed to make meaningful progress in addressing the triple burden of malnutrition. This aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in ending hunger and eliminating all forms of malnutrition, and the Philippine Development Plan’s focus on ensuring food security and nutrition.
“As we celebrate the 50th Nutrition Month, we call on all sectors to bring the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition to life in every barangay. We urge local chief executives and other partners to implement local nutrition action plans that reflect this vision,” said Assistant Secretary Dr. Azucena Dayanghirang, Executive Director IV of the National Nutrition Council. “This Nutrition Month, we aim to raise awareness of the PPAN, as our survey indicates that about 40 percent of respondents are aware of it.” 50th Nutrition Month calls for unified support for PPAN
“Every child has the right to proper nutrition. When children are well-nourished, they can learn, play, and engage in their communities more effectively, and are more resilient to illness and crises. Good nutrition is fundamental for development and essential for nation building,” said UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov.
This year’s theme is “Sa PPAN: Sama-sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat!” (Through PPAN, let’s collaborate on nutrition security for all!). The national launch took place in Koronadal City, in partnership with the provincial government of South Cotabato. Participants committed to supporting the PPAN and learning from successful PPAN implementations in the SOCSKSARGEN region.
The Nutrition Month campaign aims to boost demand for healthy diets and improve access to adequate, age-appropriate, nutrient-dense, diverse, safe, and sustainable foods. The PPAN, encompassing nutrition interventions across all life stages, emphasizes educating families and communities about proper nutrition.
Local government units, responsible for delivering nutrition services locally, are expected to develop local nutrition action plans aligned with the PPAN. Investments in nutrition should focus on the critical first 1,000 days, reaching at least 90 percent of target pregnant women and children aged 0-23 months. Additionally, interventions should address rising obesity rates through policies on reducing the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, promoting physical activity, and improving access to nutrition services.
The NNC urges all stakeholders to coordinate services in PPAN priority areas, which include 34 provinces with the highest rates of child stunting and food poverty. The NNC has recently launched the PPAN Stakeholder Map, profiling the interventions of various sectors in municipalities and cities nationwide. Stakeholders can help fill program gaps.
UNICEF has been instrumental in shaping the future direction by conducting focus group discussions, theory of change workshops, and developing an operational plan, among other activities. — Report and photo from UNICEF PH
Achieving ‘Walang Gutom’ mission by 2027
BY EDISON JOSEPH GONZALES
IT is a day filled with promise and opportunity as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. addressed a matter of utmost significance that affects millions of fellow Filipinos – and that is the problem of hunger.
According to data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Marcos cited that nearly 12 percent of Filipino families, or around three million households, experienced hunger at least once over the last three months of 2022. “One in three Filipino children under five years old still suffers from stunted growth due to malnutrition,” he said.
The Philippines’ ranking in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) is also far from ideal, with the country scoring 14.8, indicating moderate hunger, which fares below the regional score of East and Southeast Asia of 8.2.
Marcos is aware of the challenges Filipinos face, but he sees the potential to change this situation.
“We this in the non-governmental organizations and social workers, the partners from the diplomatic corps, and the different international agencies; in the social workers who are reaching out to help as much as they can; in the many communities coming together to feed the hungry and the less fortunate; and in every Filipino working hard to provide food for themselves and their families’” Marcos also said.
To add to these efforts, last October, Marcos signed Executive Order No. 44, Walang Gutom 2027: the Food Stamp Program.
“Implemented through the DSWD, it provides monetary assistance for targeted beneficiaries to purchase food commodities from eligible partner merchant stores,” he noted.
More than that, it provides the government with valuable data to monitor the progress of the beneficiaries in addressing their food problems, ensuring that their families are getting the food and nutrition they require.
However, even as the national government is more than willing to take the lead in helping address this problem of hunger through these programs, Marcos acknowledged that they also need to tap and partner with the local governments, as they always do when making a program reach the grassroots level.
As agents of the government on the ground, the local government units (LGUs) not only have better knowledge and insights on the incidence of hunger in their localities but also provide – perhaps better programs, strategies, or approaches to address hunger specific to the areas where their constituents live.
And that is why, Marcos conferred the Walang Gutom Awards (WGA) to recognize the local governments that have been exceptional in addressing hunger in their communities.
Evaluated on the criteria of impact, inclusivity, innovation, resilience, sustainability, and efficiency, “these local government units have implemented fresh, new, and exciting ideas in their respective food programs and have brought renewed impetus to our collective drive against hunger in the country,” he mentioned.
Marcos thanked the Galing Pook Foundation and the DSWD, led by Sec. Rex Gatchalian, for coming up with this initiative.
To all the 17 finalists of this year’s Walang Gutom Awards, Marcos saluted them. Each of them has already won and has been included in the prestigious list of nominees.
Marcos likewise acknowledged the 101 LGUs – from barangays to municipalities and cities, to provinces – that filed their applications and participated in this year’s pilot program implementation.
Their involvement in the process means a lot to the national government, especially as Marcos aims to put an end to hunger that has been causing suffering to the vulnerable and marginalized in the Philippines for many decades.
They are already Walang Gutom champions in the hearts and minds of the people. Marcos hopes that they will continue to sustain or even improve upon your noteworthy programs.
Marcos invited all LGUs to look at these outstanding programs of the nominees. See how and why their programs worked, and examine whether they can adopt or improve these further to apply them in your communities.
The national government will also be taking notes to see what more can be done at the national level.
The takeaway from the event should be that, “each and every one of us can contribute to the success of the campaign against hunger,” Marcos underscored.
“If they are truly to succeed in this endeavor, we must take a whole-of-nation approach to create a lasting solution to this great challenge,” he said.
Marcos calls upon the government, partners from the private sector, non-profit organizations, citizens, friends from the international community, and all citizens to work together as a united front and Walang Gutom advocates.
It is topical that they speak of this now. Marcos remembers sitting in that spot and being interviewed very early on – he thinks it was his third day in office – and he was asked: “What would you like to be your legacy for your presidency, for your administration?” It was a question that Marcos was not prepared for, and one he had not actually thought about. But the answer came to him in an instant: There will be no hunger. There are no hungry Filipinos. That is Marcos’ dream – no hungry Filipino.
It is as noble a cause one can possibly have – to make sure that every single Filipino, each and every one of whom we love like a family member, never again feels the pangs of hunger. “If we can achieve that, then we can claim to have led a good life,” he said.
Marcos concluded: “Let us move forward with determination, compassion, and purpose to build a Bagong Pilipinas where food is not only affordable but plentiful; where every Bagong Pilipino leads a good, healthy, and productive life.”
