00:00 Let's now go to the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition 2023 to 2028.
00:06 That is our discussion with the Head of the Nutrition Information and Education Division of the National Nutrition Council.
00:15 Ma'am Jovita Raval, good afternoon.
00:18 Good afternoon, Ms. Nina and to all of you who are watching your program. Thank you for inviting me.
00:27 Ma'am, we are here with Director Glenn Panganiban of the Bureau of Plant Industry.
00:32 He will also ask you some questions.
00:34 But first, ma'am, what is included in the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition?
00:41 Thank you.
00:44 The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition or PAPAN for 2023 to 2028,
00:52 is our directional plan to address the serious problem of malnutrition in our country.
01:01 So it is included in this plan are the different interventions,
01:07 how to address the triple burden of malnutrition that we call our problem of undernutrition,
01:16 especially in the obesity of children, and the overnutrition that is also increasing,
01:26 and the micronutrient deficiencies, the lack of vitamins A, iron, and iodine.
01:37 These are the effects on our health.
01:41 PAPAN is also addressing how to lower the alarming levels of malnutrition.
01:49 So here are the interventions that address improving healthy diets, better practices, and services.
01:59 Ma'am, what is the difference between our current action plan and the previous government programs
02:10 that are related to fighting malnutrition?
02:13 Yes, Director Glenn.
02:15 In our new PAPAN, it will continue to be a guide for all stakeholders.
02:25 The difference here is that before, our targets are women and children.
02:34 Now, all the population, the whole life stage, from children to adults,
02:45 because we want to make sure that all Filipinos, regardless of age, have access to sufficient nutrition.
02:55 Aside from this, we are also focusing on the problem of overweight and obesity
03:03 because of the continuous increase of the number of people affected by this.
03:10 Aside from this, we are also expanding the stakeholders involved in the program on nutrition.
03:19 We also want to promote the ordinances and laws that will improve the access of Filipinos to a healthy diet.
03:32 Ma'am, you mentioned cooperation.
03:35 How important is the participation of government agencies and LGUs in implementing our program?
03:44 Yes, we really need to cooperate because the problem of malnutrition is a factor that is a good access to sufficient and nutritious food.
03:59 At the same time, Filipinos should not get sick often which is also one of the reasons for their malnutrition.
04:09 So it is important that government agencies, especially the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, DEPED, DSWD,
04:21 and the role of local governments is very important because they are the ones directly helping and providing services to our communities.
04:34 In our new program, we are encouraging the participation of members of the academy, development partners, and those in the private sector.
04:47 In fact, we have already had an investment planning for this program and the various sectors have committed almost P600 billion to implement the program.
05:01 Okay, ma'am, based on your data, how many children are considered malnourished in the country and what is the age that usually suffers from malnutrition?
05:14 Yes, actually the biggest problem for children is what we call child stunting, especially the age before they reach two years old.
05:26 Aside from the problem of malnutrition, the effect of this is on the development of their brain.
05:33 It is estimated that 3 million children below 5 years old are affected by child stunting.
05:41 It continues when they reach 5 to 10 years old, 2.7 million, and when it comes to adolescents, 4.8 million.
05:52 Aside from that, the problem is also micronutrient deficiencies, anemia in children and iodine deficiency disorders.
06:02 But if we look at it, because we are in the whole life stage, the most affected is overnutrition.
06:11 So the National Nutrition Council estimates that 29.5 million people are overweight and obese in our country in 2021.
06:24 So not only children are affected by malnutrition, but also older persons, those 60 years old and above.
06:39 You mentioned obesity earlier, I think I'm getting nervous.
06:45 But is this rate increasing? Especially this rate currently.
06:49 And you said, what is the age? How many years have you experienced obesity?
06:55 Where does it start so we can guide or see it?
07:03 Thank you for that. Actually, across all age groups, it has increased.
07:09 In the past two decades, it has really increased.
07:15 In the last two years alone, our estimate is 27 million.
07:20 Now, it is almost 30 million.
07:22 The most affected are adults aged 20 to 59 years old, which was 38% before, and now it is 40%.
07:32 So that is the adult overnutrition.
07:36 But there are studies that say that children who are obese, the chance of them growing up is higher, they will have an overnutrition problem.
07:52 Okay.
07:54 As far as nutrition is concerned, it is one of the priorities of President Marcos Jr.
07:59 How does the government ensure that the right nutrition is provided to the young people in their first 1,000 days of life?
08:10 Yes, the first 1,000 days of life is very important because it can make or break the future of a person.
08:20 So it is important and we have a law, Republic Act 11148, that says nutrition must be ensured.
08:30 So the government has programs in the first 1,000 days,
08:35 including the National Nutrition Council, the Department of Health, and the Department of Agriculture,
08:42 to ensure that the young people have enough nutrition and can access health services, which are available for free in health centers.
08:56 And aside from that, the children must be given exclusive breastfeeding.
09:02 Breastfeeding is free so the mothers must be encouraged to breastfeed.
09:09 And our biggest problem in the first 1,000 days is that there is not enough food for the babies between 6 to 23 months.
09:21 So that is what the government will do to strengthen the organization of support groups.
09:28 The National Nutrition Council also has a program, the Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program,
09:36 that provides additional food to avoid child standing.
09:42 And that will continue. When it comes to daycare for the children, the DSWD and LGUs also have a feeding program.
09:53 And when it comes to the deaf-ed, the children who are deaf or have hearing loss,
10:00 the feeding program and related services are provided.
10:06 You mentioned your collaboration with other government agencies.
10:11 How can we further improve food and nutrition security in the country?
10:16 We are willing to partner with the DA.
10:21 Actually, Director Glenn, thank you.
10:24 Actually, we are with your other staff when building PIPAN and the role of the Department of Agriculture is very important.
10:34 In fact, the people involved in the major programs of the Department of Agriculture are included in PIPAN.
10:45 On the household level, we are improving the availability of food gardens, planting in the nursery, in schools.
10:55 Even now, we are encouraging the workplaces to have fruit and vegetables plants.
11:04 And that is also an advocacy program of the DILG.
11:10 And aside from that, the programs that will provide cheaper food like Kadiwa Stores that are also being expanded.
11:21 And then of course, the role of the Department of Health is to improve health literacy and nutrition literacy
11:31 so that people will choose more nutritious food.
11:36 And aside from that, another important thing is that our food system will provide more access to people to nutritious food.
11:46 So we will promote the laws that will regulate marketing to children because there is a big influence of foods that are high in sugar, salt, and oil.
12:05 Their consumption of these foods will be low.
12:09 And then, people also need to have access to the facilities like DOLE, CHED, and TESDA
12:20 so that our women can be more employable.
12:26 Because we have seen that the low-income, the large families, the members of the family,
12:34 they are the most vulnerable to starvation and malnutrition.
12:39 That's right, ma'am.
12:40 The food habits and lifestyle choices are a big factor in the food of Filipinos.
12:46 What can NNC do to help our countrymen choose the right nutrition and do activities for improved nutrition?
12:57 Yes.
13:00 So, it is important that one of the pillars of our new T-PAN is to make sure that Filipinos have access to healthier diets
13:12 and we change the activities so that we can choose more nutritious foods.
13:21 So we want to fix our front of pack labels.
13:26 So for every food that we can buy packaged, we will put labels that will say,
13:35 "Don't buy this food because it is high in sugar, salt, or saturated fat."
13:46 That's one of the things.
13:47 And also, the marketing regulation that I mentioned earlier.
13:52 But we also want to reduce the teaching of proper nutrition in schools.
14:01 And especially in schools, to mothers who go to health centers, they should be taught proper nutrition.
14:11 And we also want to reach the workplaces.
14:15 So we will make use of social media to reach the right information about proper nutrition.
14:26 I have learned a lot from you as a parent. I have three kids.
14:31 You, Director Glenn.
14:32 Me too.
14:33 Three kids?
14:34 Yes.
14:35 Our kids are still young.
14:36 Growing kids.
14:37 So you said it right.
14:40 Just to sum it up, to mothers or those who are planning to become mothers,
14:44 the first 1,000 days means that you know that you are pregnant, you need to be a mother.
14:50 While you are pregnant, to begin with, we should be healthy so that we can continue.
14:56 And also, breastfeeding, encouraging breastfeeding.
15:00 At least, it is cheaper and healthier.
15:02 And planting, that is good.
15:05 We said earlier that we can go to your Bureau of Plant Industry to get seedlings.
15:13 Engage.
15:14 Yes.
15:15 Engage in community farming.
15:16 Yes.
15:17 So good luck to us.
15:18 We were also hit by what you said, 20 to 59 years old,
15:23 that you said is affected by overweight or obesity.
15:27 We are in there, Director Glenn.
15:29 But that's a good reminder to all of us.
15:33 So ma'am, just quickly, send a message or a reminder to our fellow countrymen,
15:37 what are the social media sites that we can go to?
15:41 Thank you very much.
15:45 We are also supported by the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition.
15:50 For additional information, you can visit nnc.gov.ph
15:56 or the Facebook page of the National Nutrition Council.
16:01 Thank you very much.
16:03 We have invited the Head of the Nutrition Information and Education Division
16:09 of the National Nutrition Council, Ma'am Jovita Raval.
16:13 Thank you very much.
16:14 Thank you for having me.
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