SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian urged the local government units to implement measures in order to combat malnutrition, undernutrition, and stunting, especially among poor families.

At least P40 billion is needed to increase the grants to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipinong Program to help them combat malnutrition and mitigate the impact of inflation.

A study by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies found that one in three Filipino children below five years old are stunted or too short for their age.

The study also emphasized that stunting harms the economy and national development.

In 2019, UNICEF estimated that the economic cost of stunting is P174.4 billion every year. Aside from increasing resources, however, Gatchalian emphasized the important role of LGUs in delivering nutrition and feeding programs.

Under the Basic Education and Early Childhood Care and Development Alignment Act or Senate Bill No. 2575, which Gatchalian filed, LGUs shall be responsible for the implementation of early childhood care and development programs, which covers the full range of health, nutrition, early childhood education, and social services development programs for the holistic needs of children below five years old.

The proposed measure provides that LGUs shall include allocations from the Special Education Fund and the Gender and Development Fund in implementing ECCD programs.

LGUs’ responsibilities shall include the achievement of universal coverage for the National ECCD System, the provision of facilities and resources, and the creation of plantilla positions for child development teachers and child development workers, among others.

“Sa pagsugpo natin sa malnutrisyon, mahalaga ang pakikilahok ng ating mga local government units, lalo na’t sila ang mas malapit sa ating mga kababayang nangangailangan ng tulong. Isinusulong natin na bigyan natin ng mas malawak na papel ang ating mga LGUs sa paghahatid ng mga programa sa nutrisyon at early childhood care and development upang maabot natin ang bawat isa sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan ng tulong,” said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.