The Philippine Educators Alliance for Community Empowerment (PEACE) Party-list called on all candidates to commit to allocating adequate funding to comprehensively address the high prevalence of child stunting in the country.
“Child stunting remains a huge problem in our country and needs to be addressed at the soonest possible time. We urge all candidates, especially those running for the legislature and other national positions, to commit to set aside funds to solve it. Sino man ang manalo, kailangang umaksyon para matugunan ito,” PEACE PL president and first nominee Marie Paz T. Abante said.
Among the long-term effects of stunting are diminished cognitive and physical development, reduced productive capacity, and poor health.
According to the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DoST-FNRI), the Philippines needs around P6.5 billion to help around 3.64 million stunted children aged six months to three years old.
In a 2021 report, the World Bank noted that in the Philippines, 29 percent, or one in 3 children younger than 5 years old, are stunted or small for their age.
The report added that the country is ranked fifth in the East Asia and Pacific region with the highest prevalence of stunting, and among the 10 countries in the world with the highest number of stunted children.
Meanwhile, Unicef said that the Philippines’ losses due to undernutrition reach $4.5 billion or P224 billion yearly and that for each $1 invested in the nutrition program, the Philippine economy could save $12 in the foregone earnings and health expenditures due to undernutrition.
Abante said that if left unchecked, child stunting could exacerbate the education crisis.
Among the long-term effects are diminished cognitive and physical development, reduced productive capacity, and poor health.
In a 2021 report, the World Bank noted that in the Philippines, 29 percent, or one in 3 children younger than 5 years old, are stunted or small for their age.
“Stunting affects learning. If we do not address the health needs of children before they start school, we place them at a disadvantage where they already have to play catch-up right at the beginning,” the long-time educator said.
“Solving the education crisis requires that we also address severe malnutrition. Ang nais natin, papasok ang mga bata na may kakayanan at kapasidad na mapulot ang mga ituturo ng mga guro nila,” Abante added.
