ALYANSA  Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidate and former Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. has vowed to focus on solving the alarming problem of child stunting, once elected to the Senate.

Abalos stressed that stunting among Filipino children remains one of the country’s gravest challenges.

Stunting, which results from poor nutrition, affects not only a child’s height but also their brain development, with some cases leading to irreversible brain damage.

“In 2000, one out of three Filipino children were stunted. In 2025, it’s one out of four. Imagine what this means for the future of our nation,” Abalos said.

He recalled his tenure as mayor of Mandaluyong City, where they launched the Millennium Baby Project — a proactive program that tracked and supported pregnant mothers, promoted proper nutrition and breastfeeding, and ensured close monitoring of children, especially during their first 1,000 days.

This initiative helped the city achieve the highest nutrition rating in Metro Manila and led to its students topping the National Achievement Test.

“It’s not just about the education system. The most important factor is the material — the brain of the children — which depends heavily on nutrition,” Abalos stressed.

He proposed that from birth, every child should be under a comprehensive government program to ensure proper nutrition, utilizing the resources of local governments or national agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health.

“Stunting is a serious national threat. We must invest in our children’s health if we want a brighter future,” he said.