The World Health Organization (WHO) defines malnourishment as a deficiency, or excess in nutrient intake. Malnourishment can manifest in different forms, including undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies (World Health Organization, “Malnutrition”). Undernutrition refers to nutrient deficiency and remains a significant concern among children in the Philippines. Children from poor families often struggle to access food that is high in nutritional value. This malnutrition, or inability to access certain foods and the nutrients they provide, severely affects their physical and cognitive development. Malnutrition may result in: impaired brain development, increased susceptibility to diseases, and stunted growth. Stunting, or stunted growth, stems from undernutrition and is defined by a low height-for-age or children being too short for their age.
Malnutrition is an issue that plagues various countries indiscriminately, regardless of international, social and economic standing. The Philippines is an example of a country that has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, noting an average annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.4% (Mbuya et al., Undernutrition in the Philippines: Scale, Scope, and Opportunities for Nutrition Policy and Programming). Despite this economic progress, there persists a high poverty rate, documented by Poverty Statistics conducted in 2023. The statistics reveal that 25 million Filipinos continue to struggle with poverty, with their per capita income still falling short of meeting basic needs.
For instance, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), demonstrates the lowest levels of human development and living standards. These living conditions can primarily be attributed to armed conflict between the Government of the Philippines (GPH), and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). This four-decade-long armed conflict has resulted in marginalized communities where groups experience social, political, or economic exclusions, which limit their access to food or fair labour wages. Additionally, cultural norms impose further limitations, particularly on women’s socio-political engagement and livelihood opportunities. These forms of gender-based discrimination often result in limited utilization and access to essential social services (World Food Programme).
How Geography Contributes to Food Scarcity
The Philippines is an archipelago and is prone to several natural disasters, including: typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and droughts. It is ranked third amongst all countries with the highest disaster risks worldwide (World Economic Forum 2018). The occurrence of these natural disasters has adversely affected both agricultural and fisheries production, leading to a reduction in the availability of food. Consequently, this has resulted in fluctuations in food prices and consumption (Duante et al. 2015).
Stunted Growth Due to Undernutrition
Currently, rice is the primary dietary component of Filipinos, however, it is often accompanied with low levels of variety in their protein intake. Although rice is relatively cheap and readily available in the country, a diet consisting of rice, as well as animal protein, fruits and vegetables proves to be expensive. The cost of food, as well as its delivery, proves to be a challenge for many households, with high transport costs especially playing a large role in the unaffordability of food for both rural and urban consumers. The incredibly high food costs can be attributed to the fact that the country consists of many islands, and this therefore makes transportation and logistics more challenging. National Nutrition Council (NN) estimates that as of July 2023, a family of five requires a minimum daily budget of at least ₱1, 212.650 ($28.04 CAD), with the costs being higher for households with pregnant women and children (Rappler 2023).
The Philippines is ranked fifth among countries in the East Asia and Pacific region with the highest prevalence of stunted children. It is more prevalent in rural areas than in urban areas according to 2019’s Expanded National Nutrition Survey (FNRI 2019).
Despite robust economic growth and increased health budgets, there is minimal initiative from the government to reduce the prevalence of stunting among Filipino children.
Often, Filipino households rely on intervention from either local or international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as the United Nations and World Bank.
Malnutrition is the underlying cause of stunting, yet there are various factors that contribute to malnutrition, and thus inadvertently cause stunting. Most significantly, poverty deprives households, and therefore children, of proper access to nutrition-rich foods. As a result, parents will tend to opt for cheaper, less nutritious alternatives. Many Filipino children in poverty consume more rice than recommended, with little to no protein, fruits, or vegetables. Additionally, Filipinos living in poverty may have limited access to healthcare facilities, which affects proper diagnosis and treatment of issues that contribute to undernutrition. In 2019, around 23% of pregnant women were “nutritionally at risk,” as a result of inadequate maternal nutrition before and during pregnancy (World Bank 2021).
Hidden Hunger
The World Bank defines “hidden hunger,” or unrecognizable deficiencies as another form of malnutrition, that results from micronutrient deficiencies in iron, Vitamin A, folic acid, and iodine. These deficiencies can occur in diets that are energy-dense but nutrient-poor. Anemia is a type of “hidden hunger” caused by iron deficiency, which results in a decrease in the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells, which are responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. In the Philippines, the 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) shows that 38% of infants from 6-11 months old, and 26% of infants from 12-23 months old were anemic. The very high rates of anemia among infants and young children were due to an insufficient amount of iron in breast milk. This issue highlighted the importance of encouraging pregnant women to seek prenatal and postnatal care to ensure that appropriate care, and needed supplements can be provided in a timely manner. But more importantly, these resources should be accessible and readily available.
Investing in Food Security and Nutrition Builds the Future of a Nation
There have been several interventions to try and battle child malnutrition in the Philippines. Many local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have organized various feeding programs that are either school-based, or held in smaller areas. Projects, such as the Philippines Multisectoral Nutrition Project, funded by the Department of Health, United Nations, and World Bank, aims to support the access of nutrition and health care services to reduce stunting in young children. UNICEF, in partnership with the United Kingdom government has provided ready-to-eat therapeutic food in Datu Salibo town, and Maguindanao province. This was done with the goal of providing awareness among families, by providing information on how malnutrition develops, and what can be done to prevent it. Immunization, distribution of hygiene kits, as well as counseling on breastfeeding and postnatal care were also conducted. The World Food Programme also provides ready-to-eat food to children from 6 months to 5 years old, and to pregnant and nursing women in areas affected by conflict. Overall, such interventions work towards ensuring that every Filipino child is not only healthy and well-nourished, but also empowered to achieve their utmost potential in terms of growth and learning.
Work Cited
Duante, Charmaine, Carmina Cuarteros, Glen Gironella, Eldridge Ferrer, Cecilia Acuin, and
Mario Capanzana. 2015. “Impacts of Climate Shocks on Caloric Intake of Filipinos.” Food
and Nutrition Institute, Department of Science and Technology, United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization, Rome. http://www.fao.org/3/a-br337e.pdf.
Gumaru, Michael. “8th National Nutrition Survey.” FNRI Website, www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/index.php/nutrition-statistic/19-nutrition-statistic/118-8th-national-nutrition-survey.
G, Herbie. “Nutrition Council Sounds Alarm over Skyrocketing Healthy Diet Costs.” Rappler, 4 July 2023, www.rappler.com/nation/national-news/national-nutrition-council-sounds-alarm-health-diet-costs/.
Ortega, Jude. “Saving Children from Malnutrition.” http://www.unicef.org, 27 Sept. 2021, www.unicef.org/philippines/stories/saving-children-malnutrition.
Mbuya, Nkosinathi, et al. Undernutrition in the Philippines: Scale, Scope, and Opportunities for Nutrition Policy and Programming. 25 May 2021.
“New Project Supports Campaign against Malnutrition in the Philippines.” World Bank, 22 June 2022,www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/06/22/new-project-supports-campaign-against-malnutrition-in-ph.
World Economic Forum. 2018. The Global Risks Report 2018, 3d ed. Geneva: World Economic Forum
World Food Programme. “Philippines | World Food Programme.” wfp.org, 8 Aug. 2019, www.wfp.org/countries/philippines
Resources
World Food Program (Donation and more info.): https://www.wfp.org/
Philippines Multisecterol Nutrition Project: https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/671151655916778864/philippines-multisectoral-nutrition-project
World Vision (sponsorship/donation): https://donate.worldvision.ca/collections/sponsorships?country=philippines?&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=childsponsorship-fy23&mc=4568358&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAv8SsBhC7ARIsALIkVT005YAbp9EUc4tfWllfbS9CnZCUfCZQ8ukFocMXeVL-KPt4KuIhQHEaAkkhEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Save the Children (donation): https://donate.savethechildren.org.ph/campaign/hopefortheirfuture/
Our World in Data; stunting (extra information): https://ourworldindata.org/stunting-definition#:~:text=A%20child%20is%20defined%20as,can%20persist%20throughout%20someone’s%20life.
World Health Organization; malnutrition (extra information): https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malnutrition
Written by: Lhezel De Quina
Edited by: Salamat Ibrahim
Campus UNICEF 