PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged to address malnutrition and stunting among Filipino children through a series of convergent programs.

In his State of the Nation Address on Monday, Marcos said the government introduced the Food Stamp Program, which seeks to supply the nutrition needs of food-poor Filipinos.

“The FSP shall complement our nutrition continuity programs, such as the First 1,000 Days program that ensures nourishment for the first three years of the child’s life. The Supplemental Feeding Program is for our children attending daycare centers,” he said.

“The K-to-6 Program will feed Kindergarten to Grade 6 public school students, who are suffering from severe wasting,” he added.

The FSP, which was launched last week, aims to provide food augmentation to one million households classified as “food poor” as defined by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, beneficiaries of the program will receive P3,000 in food credits from July to December.

The President also said that more than 80 percent of eligible children have been vaccinated against measles, rubella, and polio as of this year.

He urged parents to prioritize their children’s health by ensuring they receive the complete set of necessary vaccinations.

“Nananawagan ako sa lahat ng mga magulang na kumpletuhin ang mga bakuna ng kanilang mga anak, at magtungo sa pinaka-malapit na health center para sa mga libreng bakuna,” Marcos said.