SEVERAL groups advocating against malnutrition and stunting among children lauded President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. for addressing child malnutrition and health needs in his third State of the Nation Address.

Marcos has earlier announced the inclusion under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps of a new grant that ensures the health of children aged 0 to 2 years from the poorest families.

The President stressed that the Department of Science and Technology has ongoing scientific research to develop nutritious food and drink that can be integrated into the government’s feeding program.

Former Senator Joey Lina, national project chairman of Children’s First One Thousand Days Coalition, believes that Marcos’ initiative would go a long way in the efforts of the government and the private sector to fulfill Republic Act 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Magnanay Act.

“The need for a unified, systematic, coordinated approach to solving malnutrition is of extreme urgency amid UNICEF 95 Filipino children die each day from malnutrition, 27 of every 1,000 kids don’t get past their fifth birthday, one-third of our children are stunted, and stunting after age 2 can be permanent, irreversible, and even fatal,” Lina said.

For their part, Malusog at Matalinong Bata Coalition co-convenor Lyonel Tanganco explained that a conditional and targeted grant under the 4Ps would help poor families afford nutritious food and healthcare for pregnant mothers and children aged 2 years and below.

“We thank the President, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, and the DSWD team for including malnutrition and stunting as a priority of the administration,” he said.

“We echo their sentiment that this is an urgent human and economic problem that must be addressed,” Tanganco further said.