As the nation observes National Nutrition Month, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Wednesday stressed the importance of investing in child nutrition, highlighting the House-approved National Nutrition Program and calling for its swift enactment as part of the country’s broader fight against child hunger and malnutrition.

The Speaker’s call comes as the latest survey by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) showed that child stunting in the Philippines rose to 25.3 percent in 2025, highlighting the urgency of strengthening government nutrition interventions.

Dy, one of the principal authors of House Bill 9466, said the proposed National Nutrition Program is among the priority measures identified under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) and by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for urgent legislative action after it was approved by the House of Representatives before the close of the First Regular Session.

The measure expands Republic Act 11037, or the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, into a comprehensive National Nutrition Program that broadens school-based feeding and nutrition interventions to reach more Filipino children and other nutritionally vulnerable sectors.

It covers all learners from Kindergarten to Grade 3, undernourished learners from Grades 4 to 12, nutritionally at-risk pregnant learners, children with disabilities, Indigenous learners and other vulnerable groups.

It also strengthens maternal nutrition interventions, micronutrient supplementation, milk feeding, sanitation and hygiene programs, nutrition education and support for local farmers and fisherfolk.

In his National Nutrition Month message, Dy said every Filipino child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy and realize his or her full potential.

“Bilang mga magulang, lolo at lola, guro, o simpleng kababayan, iisa ang ating pangarap – na walang batang Pilipino ang magugutom at ang bawat isa ay magkaroon ng pagkakataong makapag-aral, mangarap, at magkaroon ng mas magandang kinabukasan (As parents, grandparents, teachers or simple citizens, our goal is the same – that no Filipino children will go hungry and each of them will have the opportunity to study, dream and have a better future),” he said.

The Speaker said the House of Representatives has made it a priority to ensure that every Filipino child has the opportunity to grow up healthy, learn well, and pursue his or her dreams because nutrition is about more than health — it is about giving children the opportunity to succeed.

Dy noted that one of the first measures approved by the House in the 20th Congress was the expansion of the country’s school-based nutrition program.

This year’s National Nutrition Month carries the theme “Nutrisyon at Kalikasan, Ating Pangalagaan!,” highlighting the link between environmental stewardship, food security and public health.

Dy said protecting the environment also means protecting the country’s food supply and the health of future generations.

Calling nutrition an investment in the country’s future, Dy urged families, schools, local government units and communities to work together in promoting proper nutrition and caring for the environment.

“Nutrition is not just a health issue. It is an investment in our people and in the future of our nation,” he said.

“Kapag sama-sama tayong kumikilos, wala tayong batang maiiwan, mas maraming pangarap ang mabibigyan ng pagkakataong matupad, at mas magiging matatag ang ating bayan (If we act as one, no children will be left behind, more dreams will be given the opportunity to be realized, and our country will be more stable),” Dy said. (PNA)