President Marcos has assured the public that the government is taking urgent, decisive, and multisectoral action to combat child malnutrition and stunting among Filipino children, as he sounded their alarming effects on children's cognitive development and academic performance.

Marcos said this as he led the 2024 National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony in Quezon City on Friday, March 7.

In his speech, the President stressed how malnutrition and stunting have long-term and almost irreversible effects on children. He particularly cited a recent study by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM-2), which found that most Filipino students are already two to three years behind curriculum expectations by Grade 3.

"Malnutrition exists at alarming levels across different stages of life throughout our country, and this has multifarious effects. It has wrought deleterious effects on the cognitive development and the future of our children. It has contributed to our children falling behind in their education," he said.

"We are taking urgent, decisive, and multisectoral action to address the problem," he added.

With this, Marcos said he has ordered a whole-of-nation approach that aligns multiple agencies' efforts toward nutrition-focused policies.

"Investing in human capital is the key to securing our nation's future," he said.

"Let us intensify our commitment to breaking the cycle of intergenerational malnutrition," he added.

According to the President, the Department of Health (DOH) has been directed to strengthen its preventive healthcare programs, shifting its focus beyond curative care to early nutrition interventions.

"We are trying to improve our services in terms of the preventive phase of healthcare— and that includes nutrition," he said.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is also adjusting its approach, stressing that ensuring food supply is no longer enough.

"Even in the Department of Agriculture, we have stopped talking about food supply. We have now started talking about nutrition," Marcos said.

"It is not sufficient that we have everything to eat if the family, especially the child, are not still eating the right things," he added.

President Marcos said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has likewise expanded key programs, including structured feeding initiatives and the First 1,000 Days program, which supports pregnant mothers and young children.

Feeding programs in schools, according to the President, now also ensure that children receive a balanced diet by guiding them on the required intake of carbohydrates, vegetables, and other essential nutrients each week.

Another initiative is the Food Stamp Program, which provides poor families P3,000 in monthly food credits that they can use to buy nutritious foods from Kadiwa stalls and other authorized sellers.

"Kapalit ng tulong na ito ang pagdalo nila sa mga sesyon pagtungkol sa nutrition at mga aktibidad sa pagsulong ng trabaho (In exchange for this aid, they must attend nutrition education sessions and employment programs)," the President said.

The government has also expanded the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) that distributes P350,000 monthly to over 68,000 4Ps households with pregnant mothers and kids aged zero to two years old.

"These efforts align with the goals of the Philippine Development Plan, which sets a target of achieving zero hunger by 2028 as part of our commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth," Marcos said.

President Marcos then rallied the support of local government units (LGUs) so the government could achieve more and cover more ground in the fight against malnutrition and stunting.

To motivate LGUs, Marcos said he has directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to make nutrition a key criterion when awarding the Seal of Good Local Governance.

The annual National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony recognizes high-performing LGUs and local nutrition focal points (LNFPs) with outstanding nutrition program management practices. According to Malacañang, the LGU awardees were assessed based on how they enact policies, allocate budgets, and implement and sustain effective nutrition programs.

The LNFP awardees, composed of LGU workers who oversee the coordination and management of nutrition programs, were evaluated based on their capability to coordinate, manage, and advocate nutrition initiatives.

The LNFP became part of the National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony in 2021 due to their key role in improving nutrition in their respective areas.