GABRIELA Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas on Monday criticized the Marcos administration for its slow and inadequate response to the worsening child malnutrition crisis.

This follows a report from Nutrition International revealing that 3.4 million Filipino children under five are suffering from stunted growth.

“It is enraging that while millions of Filipino children go hungry and suffer from stunting, the government fails to act. This is a silent crisis robbing Filipino children of their future, and the longer we wait, the more irreversible the damage becomes,” Brosas said, highlighting the severe long-term effects of malnutrition on children’s cognitive and physical development.

Brosas pointed out that malnutrition is linked to systemic poverty, rising food prices, job insecurity, and lack of access to essential services.

“Kapag pumunta ka sa mga palengke, napakamahal ng gulay, isda, karne, at prutas. Hirap na hirap na ang mga magulang na maghanap ng mura at masustansyang pagkain para sa kanilang mga anak,” she said.

She also expressed concern over the high rates of stunting and hunger among children of farmers, who produce the country’s food.

“No child should be hungry in a country that has enough resources to feed and care for its people,” she added.

Brosas also criticized the government’s failure to effectively implement existing policies like the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, which the Gabriela Partylist pushed in Congress.

“Hindi pwedeng makuntento ang administrasyon sa feeding program dahil panandalian at hindi sustenido naman ang mga ito,” she said.

To address the crisis, Brosas called for immediate action, stressing the need for a long-term approach to tackle the root causes of malnutrition.

“We need a holistic and long-term approach that ensures poor families can access affordable and nutritious food. We need to create stable jobs with decent wages, prioritize local food production over imports, and increase the funding of basic social services,” she said.

In her Senate bid, Brosas vowed to continue fighting for children’s rights.

“Sa ating pagtakbo sa Senado, pangunahin nating agenda ang pagsusulong ng interes ng mga bata at ang pagsiguro na walang mga bata at pamilyang Pilipino ang magugutom,” she stressed.