The Children's First One Thousand Days Coalition (CFDC) hailed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (PBBM) for addressing malnutrition and the health needs of very young Filipinos during the very critical period of their lives.

In his State of the Nation Address, PBBM announced the inclusion of a new grant under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) "to ensure the health of children zero to two years old from the poorest families."

"Sa pamamagitan nito, ang isang buntis o isang ina na benipisaryo ng 4Ps ay mabibigyan ng karagdagang tulong pinansyal na laan para sa kanya at kanyang anak. Ang tulong na ito ay para matiyak na siya at ang sanggol sa kanyang sinapupunan o batang anak ay maaasikaso ng doctor, mababakunahan at mabibiyan ng sapat na nutrisyon," he said.

The President also announced that the Department of Science and Technology "has been undertaking scientific research to develop nutritious food and drink which can be integrated into the government's feeding program."

Former Senator Joey Lina, CFDC national project chairman, said the President's emphasis on the need to address the health and nutrition of children during the crucial period from conception to their second birthday will go a long way in the current efforts of government and private sector to fulfill the intent of RA 11148 or the "Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Magnanay Act."

The law enacted in 2018 calls for a whole-of-government approach, in collaboration with civil society organizations and the private sector, to fight malnutrition during a child's first 1,000 days of life — a critical time that spells the difference between an impoverished life of misery with many health problems, or a life of good health and success.

"The need for a unified, systematic, coordinated approach to solve malnutrition is of extreme urgency amid UNICEF findings that 95 Filipino children die each day from malnutrition, 27 of every 1,000 kids don't get past their 5th birthday, one-third of our children are stunted, and stunting after age 2 can be permanent, irreversible and even fatal," Lina said.

He said the CFDC uses a manual that outlines specific interventions — conducted in coordination with the National Nutrition Council and local government units — aimed at optimizing the health of both the mother and child throughout the pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and post-pregnancy stages.