Addressing nutrition and learning capacities

This week, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed into law Republic Act (RA) No. 11037, otherwise known as the “Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act.”

This groundbreaking law is clear proof of the President’s dedication to afford every Filipino child the right to proper healthcare and nutrition benefits. It is a testament the Duterte administration recognizes the importance of good nutrition to our children’s ability to develop into physically and mentally healthy individuals.

Breakfast is usually treated as the most important meal of the day; however, lunch is equally as important. Like adults, our children have a long day ahead of them, and starting their day from early morning to midday can drain them of the energy they need to keep up with studying. Without a properly balanced and nutritious lunch, children may become sluggish and lose their focus in class in the afternoon.

Aside from these energy slumps, which cause children to lose concentration, they might lose motivation as well in participating in after-school activities like sports and other physical pursuits. As parents, we only want what’s best for our children and that includes being able to provide them with well-balanced and nutritious meals that can give them a good dose of the essential vitamins and minerals they need to fully face their day in school.

The new law, of which I was one of the principal authors when I was still a member of Congress, institutionalizes a National Feeding Program in cooperation with national government agencies, for undernourished children in public day care, kindergarten and elementary schools.

Children under this program shall receive one fortified meal for a period of not less than 120 days in a year. A fortified meal, as defined by the law, is a “meal with deliberately increased content of essential micronutrients so as to improve the nutritional quality of the food and provide the level of calories and protein as prescribed by the National Nutrition Council.”

RA 11037 likewise provides for a milk feeding program. Fresh milk and fresh milk-based food products shall be incorporated in the fortified meals and standardized menus prepared by national government agencies.

As kids, we were often told by our parents not to forget to drink our milk so that we can grow strong and tall. Although some of us might not have been able to enjoy this or have taken this for granted, it is already proven that drinking milk is beneficial in more ways than one. Growing children need milk since it is rich in calcium but it also contains other essential nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fat.

We aim to combat hunger and undernutrition among the youngest members of our society, for we consider it a sin for the government to be unable to spend billions of pesos worth of budget while around six million Filipino youth suffer from malnutrition.

I am aware that there are several local government units already implementing a feeding program of their own, some even going years back. Institutionalizing this program ensures that students all over the country will get the opportunity to have sound minds and bodies, same as those from the richer LGU.

It is but right for the national government to give attention to the welfare of our schoolchildren, especially those from low-income families. Studies have proven that eating a healthy lunch can be a tremendous boost to the academic performance of students. A proper meal helps improve concentration, as well-fed children can focus on their academic tasks rather than be distracted by a rumbling stomach. Students who eat before classes also tend to score higher on tests. After all, if you can concentrate better on your lessons, then you get to retain more information. A proper meal gives children increased energy needed to get through a school day. Lastly, improved nutrition for schoolchildren reduces tardiness and absenteeism. More days in school means more time to learn.

We, therefore, welcome the passage of this law to safeguard our youth from the ill effects of undernourishment and subsequently enhance their learning capacities.