’15 million Filipino children are malnourished’

The Philippines is a wealthy country with a soaring economy and mouth-watering property prices in the capital Manila, but rampant corruption, a runaway birthrate, callous indifference and less-than-efficient government structures mean that millions of Filipinos go to bed each night hungry.

It’s estimated that more than 15 million Filipino children are malnourished.

But one local politician is determined to make a difference.

Grace Poe, a senator and the adopted daughter of the late Fernando Poe, a former movie actor and 2004 presidential candidate, is calling for concrete action to address the problem.

In a privilege speech at the Philippine senate recently, Poe urged every Filipino and everyone in government should do their part to help end hunger.

“We shouldn’t allow the applause of rating agencies drown out the grumbling of empty stomachs,” she said.

“We should let the issue of hunger gnaw at bureaucracy’s thick walls or the officialdom’s thick hides the way an ulcer lacerates the gut.”

Poe called for an increase in the budget next year for children’s feeding programmes, which could be done by doing away with ‘frivolous’ budgetary items.

While calling for sincere efforts to invest in and improve agricultural programs by giving these sufficient funding, she also urged civic action to help end hunger, including small deeds that, taken together, could go a long way.

She noted the recent Social Weather Stations survey that found that 43 per cent or some 9.3 million families considered themselves ‘food-poor’.

But the Food and Agriculture Organisation provided a higher estimate of 15 million malnourished children, bigger than Metro Manila’s population.

“Hunger in this supposed time of economic growth is the paradox of our times,” Poe said.

“Without sufficient nutrition, children’s motor development slows down and their cognitive skills become stunted. Those who weigh less score low in tests and learn less than their classmates.

“Children who frequently miss meals are also likely to miss classes. It’s the country’s future that is being jeopardised.”