The Philippines received one of the lowest international aid for nutrition compared to neighboring countries with high stunting prevalence, according to a study from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

In a research titled “A Review of Public Expenditures for Nutrition in National Government Agencies of the Philippines (2017–2019),” the country only received $3.7 million, or $3 cents per capita in international aid for nutrition from 2014 to 2018.

This is opposed to Indonesia, which has a similar stunting prevalence and a higher gross domestic product per capita than the Philippines, that received $92 million, or $34 cents per capita.

The country, according to the study, has a stunting prevalence rate of 30 percent compared to Indonesia which has 31 percent.

Stunting, or being too short for one’s age, is defined as a height that is more than two standard deviations below the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards median.

Local gov't spending on nutrition

At the local level, spending on nutrition was estimated at P492.7 billion, which is equivalent to an average annual per capita of P1,554.3, according to the study.

The Department of Social and Welfare Development spent the most on nutrition at 59.6 percent or P293.5 billion.

Of these, P8.49 billion was spent on nutrition-specific interventions such as the supplementary feeding program at P8.36 billion and Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon Program at P132 million.

While P278.6 billion was spent on nutrition-sensitive social protection services, including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The top three agencies that spent the most on their nutrition-related activities are the Department of Agriculture at 10.8 percent or P53.206 billion and the Department of Health at 10.2 percent or P50.426 billion.