Cayetano pushes stronger monitoring and targeted action vs child stunting
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday called for stronger monitoring and targeted government action against child stunting as he pressed authorities to improve how they identify children who need help.
Cayetano made the call during his interpellation on Senate Bill No. 2272 or the Expanded National Nutrition Program Act, one of the 24 priority bills identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for the 20th Congress.
He pointed out that one in four Filipino children is stunted and asked if the government’s current monitoring system is enough to identify those who need immediate intervention.
Cayetano, who has long advocated efforts to address stunting, noted that existing surveys rely on random sampling and are mainly used to measure the prevalence of stunting. He said this approach does not provide enough information about specific children and households that need assistance.
“You can’t keep applying old solutions to new problems even if your new problem is also an old problem,” the Minority Leader said.
“If you want to help them, it’s not enough to have a random sample because you have to know where they live and what their circumstances are,” he added.
Cayetano also called for stronger intervention in areas where stunting rates are particularly high, saying communities with stunting rates of 30 percent and above should receive greater attention and more targeted intervention.
He also raised concerns about PhilHealth coverage for ordinary stunting and said the bill should clearly identify measures that can already be implemented while allowing agencies to study areas that need further details.
“When we cannot be specific, let’s be general. Anything that we cannot specify na ito gawin, we’ll talk about it in general. But anything that we can specify, [let’s work on it] to ensure the success of this bill,” he said.
Cayetano also pushed for closer coordination among government agencies, clearer nutrition terms, and stronger nutrition education for parents and children.
Despite his concerns, Cayetano expressed support for the measure, saying it could lead to a more comprehensive approach to nutrition and child health.
“I really support this bill. I really like it when the bills evolve into transformative measures rather than just reactionary. It really goes into [what the] Constitution [states. ] it’s very clear that when you talk about the future, you talk about the children,” he said.
Filipino Version
Mas mahigpit na monitoring at targeted na aksyon laban sa child stunting itinutulak ni Cayetano
Nanawagan si Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Martes ng mas mahigpit na monitoring at mas targeted na aksyon ng gobyerno laban sa child stunting, lalo na sa pagtukoy sa mga batang nangangailangan ng agarang tulong.
Ginawa ni Cayetano ang panawagan sa kanyang interpellation sa Senate Bill No. 2272 o ang Expanded National Nutrition Program Act na isa sa 24 na priority bills na tinukoy ng Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council o LEDAC para sa 20th Congress.
Ayon kay Cayetano, isa sa bawat apat na batang Pilipino ang stunted. Dahil dito, tinanong niya kung sapat ba ang kasalukuyang sistema ng gobyerno para matukoy ang mga batang kailangang agad na mabigyan ng intervention.
Matagal nang isinusulong ni Cayetano ang mga hakbang laban sa stunting. Aniya, umaasa ang kasalukuyang surveys sa random sampling para masukat ang lawak ng problema pero hindi nito natutukoy kung sinu-sino ang mga batang nangangailangan ng agarang tulong.
“You can’t keep applying old solutions to new problems even if your new problem is also an old problem,” sabi ng Minority Leader.
“If you want to help them, it’s not enough to have a random sample because you have to know where they live and what their circumstances are,” dagdag niya.
Iginiit din ni Cayetano na dapat mas tutukan ang mga komunidad na may stunting rate na 30 porsyento pataas sa pamamagitan ng mas target na intervention.
Ibinahagi rin niya ang pagkabahala sa PhilHealth coverage para sa ordinary stunting at iginiit na dapat malinaw sa panukala kung aling mga hakbang ang maaari nang ipatupad habang pinag-aaralan pa ang ibang detalye.
“When we cannot be specific, let’s be general. Anything that we cannot specify na ito gawin, we’ll talk about it in general. But anything that we can specify, [let’s work on it] to ensure the success of this bill,” sabi niya.
Iminungkahi rin ni Cayetano ang mas maayos na koordinasyon ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno, paglilinaw sa mga terminong ginagamit sa nutrition, at pagpapalakas ng nutrition education para sa mga magulang at mga bata.
Sa kabila ng mga ito, sinuportahan ni Cayetano ang panukala na aniya ay maaaring maging daan para magkaroon ng mas malawak at mas maayos na approach sa nutrition at child health.
“I really support this bill. I really like it when the bills evolve into transformative measures rather than just reactionary. It really goes into [what the] Constitution [states. ] it’s very clear that when you talk about the future, you talk about the children,” wika ng senador.
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