SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano welcomed the government’s renewed focus on addressing child stunting, following his earlier calls for action on the issue.

“The best return on investment, peso for peso, is preventing stunting,” Cayetano said. “What’s the use of a P6-trillion budget and livelihood projects if many Filipinos grow up unproductive due to stunting?”

Cayetano’s remarks followed President Marcos’ announcement of new preventive measures against stunting. He had first raised the issue in September 2023 and has since warned that stunting is a major threat to the country’s education system and overall development.

“You can have free education, scholarships, and the best computers, but if a child is stunted, it’s hard to correct that,” he added.

The senator emphasized the importance of good nutrition in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. He also supported efforts by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to improve access to nutritious food.

“It’s crucial that children have access to proper nutrition from pregnancy to their second birthday,” Cayetano said. He also called for health centers in all barangays, especially in areas with high stunting rates.

“We can rely on local governments where stunting rates are low, but the national government must focus on areas with high stunting risks,” he added.