Senators Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan on Tuesday urged the government to strengthen nutrition programs for children and integrate locally-sourced food into disaster relief efforts.
Pangilinan is pushing the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to explore incorporating healthier and locally-produced items in food packs distributed during calamities.
“Some local government units already do this by helping their farmers, while at the same time, other LGUs prepare and pre-position supplies for relief assistance in anticipation of the typhoon and for evacuation centers,” he said.
The senator lamented that many existing relief packs rely heavily on high-sodium, preservative-laden products such as canned goods, sardines, and instant noodles.
The 2019 Sagip Saka Act, according to him, allows national agencies and local governments to buy directly from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.
Pangilinan said the law could help DSWD align early harvests from local farmers with relief needs in anticipation of typhoons and other disasters.
He acknowledged logistical challenges in delivering fresh food during emergencies but urged the department to study feasible approaches.
The lawmaker pointed out that Camarines Sur Multi-Purpose Cooperative saw a nine-fold income increase in 2020 after several LGUs sourced rice from farmers during the pandemic.
Participation in cooperatives and local sourcing, he said, would boost small businesses, markets, and local transport as farmers and fisherfolk spend more in their communities.
Meanwhile, Aquino noted that 26.7% of Filipino children under five are stunted, which can affect physical growth, cognitive development, and long-term potential.
He said proper nutrition in the first 1,000 days strengthens neural pathways, language, memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
“Let’s fund programs that genuinely help children and remove funding from programs or projects that may only lead to corruption. Our committee’s call is ‘education, not corruption,’ which includes providing proper nutrition for our children,” said Aquino.
Both senators called for sustained attention to early childhood nutrition while linking food sourcing to local farmers under the Sagip Saka framework.
This approach, they said, aligns with the broader goal of creating a Philippines where children are well-fed, healthy, and ready to learn.
