The key role of nutrition in education
Five years have passed since Republic Act No. 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-nanay Act was enacted. Also known as the First 1,000 Days Act, the law is intended to address several issues related to the health of infants and their mothers, particularly those from poor families, and the effect of malnutrition on the physical and mental development of the child. As the principal author of the law, I recognized the need to institute a strong policy framework to ensure both pregnant mothers and their young children receive proper nutrition wherever they are situated in the country.
It has long been established that proper nutrition during the 1,000 day period — from pregnancy until the second year of a child’s life, is the most critical time when it comes to the development of a child. RA 11148 scales up nutrition intervention programs in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life and allocates resources in a sustainable manner to improve the nutritional status and address the malnutrition of infants and young children from zero to two years old, adolescent females, pregnant, and lactating women to ensure growth and development of infants and young children. UNICEF emphasizes that what, when and how children eat is more important before age two than at any other time in life. It recognizes that many infants and young children are not receiving the nutrition they need to survive and thrive.
The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), of which I am a commissioner, has identified early childhood care and development, wherein nutrition and feeding is a key component, as a priority area in the performance of its mandate of assessing and evaluating the performance of the Philippine education sector. Apart from RA 11148, we also have RA 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, which provides a national feeding program for undernourished children aged three to 12 in public daycare centers and elementary schools. EDCOM 2 has identified malnutrition as a major problem in the Philippines. The data shows that one in every three Filipino children under five years is chronically malnourished.
Chronic malnutrition leads to stunting, where a child fails to grow and develop to his or her full potential. Stunting also has long-term effects such as poor cognition and learning performance, weakened immune systems and greater risk of diseases later in life. Stunting is caused by undernutrition during pregnancy, inadequate intake of high-quality food from 0-23 months, and persistent child illnesses. UNICEF notes that children who were stunted frequently have lower productivity, and earn up to 20 percent lower than average wages as adults.
RA 11148 identifies all the services needed for the first 1,000 days of life, from prenatal check-ups, immunization of pregnant and children, dietary supplementation programs for the target groups, training of health and nutrition workers, provision of other health and nutrition services, and psychosocial stimulation.
Under this year’s national budget, a total of ₱99.31 million was provided to the National Nutrition Council of the Department of Health for the implementation of RA 11148. For 2024, the Senate Committee on Finance is working to increase the amount proposed by the Executive Branch so that more young children and their mothers will get the proper nourishment and care that they require.
The challenge has always been to ensure the funds are downloaded to the level of the barangays and that information about the programs under the law are cascaded to the target beneficiaries. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development can be a powerful tool to help in the implementation of the law. The 4Ps incentivizes pregnant women and children aged zero to five to get check-ups at their local health centers through cash grants. Nutrition interventions can be integrated to these check-ups so in effect we are casting a wider net to improve the health and development of pregnant mothers and young children.
The NNC recently launched its Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028, a strategic, multi-sectoral, multi-level and directional plan to address all forms of malnutrition in the country. It seeks to reduce all forms of malnutrition across all life stages by 2028. By 2028, the goal of the PPAN is to bring down the prevalence of low birth weight among infants to 8.6 percent; stunted children under five to 17.9 percent; wasted children under five to 4.3 percent; overweight children under five to 3.5 percent; and Vitamin A deficiency among children six months to five years old. As the chairman of the Committee on Finance, we will strive to support this effort through interventions in the budgetary process in order to reduce, if not totally eliminate malnutrition in the country.
Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 19 years — nine years as Representative of the lone district of Aurora, and 10 as Senator. He has authored, co-authored, and sponsored more than 330 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate.