QUEZON CITY- The country needs an estimated PhP 6.5B to help the 3.64M stunted children six months to three years old.  

This is according to the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), which has been implementing the Malnutrition Reduction Program (MRP) since 2011, a science-based nutrition strategy that help address the high prevalence of underweight infants and young Filipino, in partnership with the local government units, national government agencies, and the private sector.

One pack of complementary food developed by DOST-FNRI, priced at PhP15.00, is needed per child daily, that translates to PhP 54.6M per day to feed the 3.64M stunted children for 120 feeding days. Currently, the DOST-FNRI, through its existing complementary food production facilities, can only cover 2.04% of this projected demand.

“Kailangan po namin ng partners hindi lang po sa gobyerno, pati po sa private sector dahil ito pong problema natin na 3.64 million children ay hindi po biro. That is about 3 percent of the country’s population. But more importantly ‘yan po ang future ng ating bansa,” Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, Undersecretary for R&D of DOST said, addressing multisector partners in a gathering dubbed as “Alay mo, Kinabukasan ko: Solidifying Intersectoral Support Against Malnutrition, organized by DOST-FNRI.

Data shows that 1 in 5 Filipino infants and young children 0-23 months old are stunted. Stunting or low-length or low-height for age is when a child has impaired growth and development due to poor nutrition. Its long-term effects include diminished cognitive and physical development, reduced productive capacity, and poor health.

“Any impaired physical and mental development during this critical phase is irreversible. This period is the “window of opportunity,” when nutrition intervention is best provided. This crucial period is the best chance to help save our children from malnutrition and illnesses,” Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, Director and Scientist II of DOST-FNRI, said.

According to UNICEF the Philippines loses USD 4.5B dollars or PhP 224B yearly due to undernutrition and for each 1USD (49.75 PHP) invested in the nutrition program, the Philippine economy will save 12 USD (597) in the forgone earnings and health expenditures due to undernutrition.

The MRP, one of the government’s flagship programs, involves two components: one is the technology transfer rollout of DOST-FNRI food complementary technologies to qualified entrepreneurs and organizations to the regions and provinces to help in the supply side of the program; and two, the DOST-Pinoy, an intervention strategy which combines 120 feeding days of DOST-FNRI developed complementary foods to infants and young children from zero to below three years old.

The DOST-Pinoy intervention also includes nutrition education of mothers and caregivers on DOST-FNRI developed modules on basic nutrition, safe pregnancy, breast feeding, complementary feeding, food safety, meal planning, and vegetable gardening.

MRP succeeded in establishing 37 complementary food production facilities, operating in 17 regions and 33 provinces nationwide. DOST Pinoy feeding program covered 149 cities and municipalities in 57 provinces across the country. Some 6,225 local level community workers were trained on nutrition education.

The MRP significantly improved the nutritional status of 15,824 infants and young children who participated in the program. The local area data showed that the percentage of underweight infants and young children was reduced from 65.2% in 2016 to 33.1% in 2018, while the percentage of severely underweight infants and young children decreased from 14.6% in 2016 to 5.6% in 2018.

One participant of the Malnutrition Reduction Program, Sheila Santos, from Guiginto Bulacan, said “Ang aking anak ay naging kalahok ng Complementary Feeding Malnutrition Reduction Program noong sya ay isang taong gulang, taong 2020, pinakain siya ng food blends at mongo crunchies na ako po mismo ang may gawa. Para sa akin dapat pa pong ipagpatuloy ang MRP DOST Pinoy sa aming barangay dahil nasosolusyunan po nya at nakakatulong po sya sa iba na kagaya ko rin po na isang mommy na may anak na isang pihikan, kulang po talaga sya sa timbang.

DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña expressed the DOST’s aspiration for MRP to be included once again in the National Priority Plan of the government. The secretary specially cited NEDA, National Nutrition Council, Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Budget and Management, and LGUs as relevant partners in the effective implementation of the program.

Some of the private sector partners who pledged commitment to reducing malnutrition in the country are Nestle, San Miguel Corporation, Robinsons, CDO Food Sphere, Nutridense Food Manufacturing Corporation, Amway, Nutrition and Beyond Corporation and many others.(DOST)