THE HOUSE of Representatives has approved a measure that seeks to establish a nutrition program for students in all state universities and colleges as well as community colleges.

Voting 226-0, the lawmakers approved on third and final reading House Bill 10460 that will facilitate the implementation of the country’s nutrition program.

Zamboanga Sibugay 1st District Rep. Wilter Wee Palma II, author of one of the consolidated and substituted bills, said that the measure aims to develop the cooperation between state universities and colleges and local government units in promoting the nutritional well-being of the people.

Palma explained that millions of people are starving or dying of starvation. Based on studies, the lawmaker said hunger kills 21,000 people around the world daily or one death every four seconds and most of the victims are children.

When enacted into law, the Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement would help LGUs in programs that support the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition to combat malnutrition, food and nutrition insecurity, social deprivation and poverty.

The measure mandates the establishment of BIDANI as a nutrition-in-development research program involving SUCs and community colleges which aims to assist the government in improving the nutrition and general well-being of the poor.

Under the measure, SUCs and community colleges are required to conduct training and capacity-building activities on strategies and innovative practices to ensure that in-planning nutrition shall be integrated in all areas of local governance.