AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee filed a measure that will better address malnutrition especially in children.

House Bill 7586 or the proposed Nutrition Act of 2023 seeks to expand the powers and functions of the National Nutrition Council into a commission to strengthen its mandate to address problems on malnutrition.

The NNC was created in 1974.

The measure mandates the creation of a 10-year Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition by the commission in coordination with non-government organizations and relevant government agencies such as the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Education among others.

Lee stressed the need for the government to scale up its workforce and resources to combat hunger and severe malnutrition, particularly the prevalent wasting, stunting, micronutrient deficiencies and obesity among children and women.

“Our country faces the multi-faceted problems of malnutrition and undernutrition which are deeply rooted in different health, social, economic, and political aspects, resulting in prevailing illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and child stunting, among others,” Lee said.

“It is high time to strengthen the NNC to expand its powers and functions and scale it up into a Commission to respond to the prevailing hunger and malnutrition situation in the country,” he added.