Groups advocating against malnutrition and stunting among children on Tuesday lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for addressing child malnutrition and health needs in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

In his SONA, Marcos announced the inclusion under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of a new grant that ensures the health of children aged 0 to 2 years from the poorest families.

He said the Department of Science and Technology has an ongoing scientific research to develop nutritious food and drink that can be integrated in the government’s feeding program.

Children’s First One Thousand Days Coalition (CFDC) national project chair Joey Lina said Marcos’ initiative would “go a long way” in the efforts of the government and the private sector to fulfill Republic Act 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Magnanay Act.

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

Meanwhile, Malusog at Matalinong Bata Coalition co-convenor Lyonel Tanganco said a conditional and targeted grant under the 4Ps would help poor families afford nutritious food and healthcare for pregnant mothers and children aged 2 years and below.

“We thank the President, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, and the DSWD team for including malnutrition and stunting as a priority of the administration,” he said.

“We echo their sentiment that this is an urgent human and economic problem that must be addressed,” he added. (PNA)