Hunger grips: Filipino students continue to struggle against malnutrition

ARTICLE : KRISTEN NICOLE RANARIO | JANUARY 7, 2024.

Grade 1 Students from Mandaluyong Elementary School eat their meal during a School-Based feeding Program. | via Kristen Nicole Ranario

A shared experience among Filipinos during their elementary days involved portraying a vegetable for Nutrition Month, an annual celebration inseparable from the lively dance to the tune of “Makulay ang buhay sa sinabawang gulay.”

As much as adults find this song nostalgic, vibing with it jokingly shows how oblivious they may be to the fact that it is only one among the many attempts to combat malnutrition.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), 26.7% of children under 5 years old are stunted, while another 5% are wasting or too thin for their height. The World Bank also explained that stunting in the first 1,000 days results in poor academic performance, affecting children’s brain development and immunity.

Such data shows that malnutrition continues to be a pressing concern impacting children's physical wellness and academic performance.

A teacher’s viewpoint

As an elementary school teacher in Quezon City, Mrs. Airee Lagula witnessed firsthand the effects of malnutrition on her students. Out of her 35 pupils, 5 per year are monitored for the school's feeding program.

Lagula observed that nutrition is the main factor affecting these students' academic performance—both in their behavior and development.

“There’s a risk factor [that leads] to high absenteeism and low performance. Kapag meron kaming mga achievement test usually, mga lowest score is, out of 25 ang nakukuha lang nila is 9, minsan 5,” Lagula said.

She acknowledged that the problem is rooted in their community’s lack of resources and prevalence of poverty. These children are mostly from families with low income while some experience neglect from their parents.

This concern persists even with the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) of the Department of Education (DepEd).

SBFP’s new approach

Implemented as DepEd’s initiative to combat malnutrition, the SBFP operates under the Republic Act 11037, known as the “Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act.”

This program caters to elementary students from public schools identified as stunted and wasted, offering them hot meals, nutritious food products (NFP), deworming tablets, micronutrient doses, and milk for 120 days.

During the Senate Committee on Basic Education’s hearing last August 23, 2023, DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas explained that the existing duration of the program is insufficient to eradicate malnutrition, prompting him to propose an increase in the SBFP’s budget from P5 billion to P11 billion.

If approved, the program will be implemented for the entire school year.

A pediatrician’s take

Pediatrician Dr. Nivard Mangahas underscored that SBFP’s food list can be an effective tool against malnutrition. However, the Philippines’ poor economy persistently worsens it.

Dr. Mangahas emphasized the need for an improved program that can be aligned with the healthy eating programs of the Department of Health (DOH).

He also encouraged teachers to be more considerate since children may suffer more than the physical manifestations of malnutrition. Apparently, hungry children couldn’t care less about letters or numbers when all they hear is the grumbling of their stomachs, leaving them with the tendency to have poor memory, appetite, and concentration.

“Be patient and help these less fortunate students as far as education is concerned. Seek for help or advice in your local health centers, RHU (Rural Health Unit), or even BHW (Barangay Health Workers),” he added.

Food security for all

As the country continues to struggle with inflation, the DOH, National Nutrition Council (NNC), and UNICEF Philippines commemorated the 2023 National Nutrition Month with the theme “Healthy Diet Gawing Affordable for All,” aiming to enhance access to affordable and nutritious diets, especially for families and children.

A 2023 IBON Foundation study showed that the Philippines presently holds the highest inflation rate among Southeast Asian countries, impacting the purchasing power of its citizens. The country has consistently grappled with high inflation rates since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

According to the Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS), in 2021, 2% of Filipino households suffer from severe food insecurity, while 33.4% experience it moderately. These families compromise eating healthily by purchasing cheaper options if it means a day-to-day victory against hunger.

In response, the NNC launched on September 4, 2023, the improved Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028 which highlights strategies to ensure food security and address all forms of malnutrition.