More Press Releases

Bam Aquino echoes Cayetano’s years-long push vs. child stunting

Bam Aquino echoes Cayetano’s years-long push vs. child stunting
Bam Aquino echoes Cayetano’s years-long push vs. child stunting

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday said his departure from the Senate’s top post would not stop efforts to uncover the truth behind alleged irregularities in the country’s flood control program, framing the recent leadership battle as a larger struggle over corruption, constitutional independence, and public accountability.

In a June 17 statement on social media titled “A Grateful Heart, An Unfinished Fight,” Cayetano thanked supporters, acknowledged allies who stood by him, and vowed to continue pursuing accountability over billions of pesos intended for flood mitigation projects.

The statement comes amid an ongoing dispute over Senate leadership that Cayetano and his allies have linked to efforts to scrutinize government flood control spending.

Throughout his statement, Cayetano repeatedly emphasized that the fight was not about the Senate presidency itself.

“This was never about the Senate presidency. From the very beginning it was about the truth — the truth about the flood-control funds, the billions meant to shield our towns and our families from the waters, the protection that was paid for and never came. That is the fight that began all of this — one side wanted to bring it out, the other desperate to keep it covered. And it is a fight that we intend to continue, no title or position required,” he said.

Cayetano also questioned the purpose of the special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 17, which Malacañang said was intended to tackle urgent legislative measures.

He argued that the legislative calendar itself undercut that justification, noting that none of the President’s 21 priority measures appeared poised for passage.

“The President himself named twenty-one priority measures for passage by June, and when our leadership changed, his Palace promised the public there would be no slowdown. Yet not one of those twenty-one appears to be set for passage today,” he said.

He said instead, what will be sent into law instead is “a national orchid and two grants of citizenship.” The lone priority measure on the calendar, he added, is the Anti-Political Dynasty bill which currently sits only at interpellation

“We could have done the people’s work these past weeks — had the effort gone into governing rather than into counting to thirteen. Instead, the real work waits. Cover-up time muna,” Cayetano said.

He also questioned whether the special session was meant to advance legislation or simply formalize a change in Senate leadership.

“Which leaves one honest question. If we are serious about working, then let us pass serious bills. And if we are not — if this Special Session is only the Palace’s way of legitimizing its chosen Senate President — then the only thing special about it is that it proves our point despite all their denials,” he said. 

He ended his message by vowing that his pursuit of the truth would continue regardless of who leads the Senate.

“Offices are temporary, titles are temporary, even majorities are temporary — but your right to the truth is not. I promise you, we will get to the bottom of this. We will find the Masterminds. We will hold them accountable,” he said, addressing the public.

“I may leave the position of SP, but I am honored to still be your PS — your Public Servant,” he added.

Bam Aquino sinuportahan ang matagal nang panawagan ni Cayetano kontra child stunting

Sinuportahan ni Senador Bam Aquino nitong Miyerkules ang ilang taon nang panawagan ni Senador Alan Peter Cayetano kontra child stunting o pagkabansot, na babala ni Cayetano ay hindi lang isang problema sa kalusugan kundi isa rin sa mga ugat ng learning crisis sa bansa.

“Hindi po natin malulutas ang krisis sa edukasyon kung hindi po natin tututukan ang isa sa mga ugat nito: ang kakulangan sa nutrisyon,” wika ni Aquino sa kanyang sponsorship speech para sa proposed Expanded National Nutrition Program Act sa special session noong June 17, 2026.

Layunin ng panukala na tugunan ang malnutrition at stunting sa pamamagitan ng mga programang pangnutrisyon sa bawat yugto ng buhay ng bata, mula sa pagbubuntis ng ina hanggang high school.

Kasama rito ang feeding programs para sa kindergarten hanggang Grade 3, universal health record kung saan susubaybayan ang paglaki ng bawat bata, at direktang pagbili ng mga gulay at isda mula sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda.

Tinutugunan ng panukala ang krisis na mahigit dalawang taon nang halos mag-isang binibigyang diin ni Cayetano sa Senado.

Giit ni Cayetano, “irreversible” at panghabambuhay ang mga epekto ng kondisyong ito sa mga bata, gaya ng hindi sapat na development ng utak, mahinang resistensya, mahinang performance sa eskuwela, at mas mababang productivity pagtanda.

“Kung y’ung bata ay stunted, gaano man kaganda ang housing project mo, livelihood projects, or whatever, hindi ito makakapagbigay ng returns kasi once na stunted na, limited na ‘yong interventions na puwede,” ani Cayetano sa budget debates noong November 2024.

“Aanhin natin ang P6 trillion budget kung one-third, one-fourth, or one-fifth of your population is stunted or bansot?” dagdag niya.

Unang ipinanawagan ni Cayetano ang agarang aksyon laban sa stunting sa quarterly meeting ng Second Congressional Commission on Education o EDCOM 2 noong Setyembre 2023, matapos makausap ang Presidente ng Singapore na si Tharman Shanmugaratnam na nagpunto sa kanya ng kahalagahan ng anti-stunting measures sa pag-unlad ng isang bansa.

“He said the best return of investment, peso to peso, is in anti-stunting,” ani Cayetano noong 2023.

“You can have free and quality education, scholarships, and the best computers, pero ‘pag stunted ang bata, mahirap nang mai-correct iyon,” dagdag niya.

Mula noon, paulit-ulit nang hinikayat ni Cayetano ang kapwa senador na maglaan ng malaking pondo para sa isang multi-agency at pambansang programa na titiyak sa tamang nutrisyon ng mga batang Pilipino sa kanilang first 1,000 days of life. Isinusulong din niya ang pagtatayo ng health centers sa lahat ng barangay, at iprayoridad dito ang mga rehiyong may mataas na kaso ng stunting gaya ng BARMM.

Noong July 2025, naghain din si Cayetano ng panukalang batas na lilikha sa isang Anti-Stunting Action Plan o ASAP Council na aatasang bumuo at magpatupad ng whole-of-government at whole-of-society roadmap para pigilan, bawasan, at tuluyang wakasan ang child stunting sa bansa.

Sa kabila ng mga panawagang ito, hindi naisama sa 2026 national budget ang malakawang anti-stunting program na isinusulong ni Cayetano, bagama’t may pondo para sa first 1,000 days-related cash grants sa ilalim ng 4Ps.

“Are we willing years from now, y’ung young adults natin, one out of four of them cannot reach their full potential because of this (stunting)? We need a specific intervention,” ani Cayetano noong December 2025.

Ilang buwan ang nakalipas, ganitong ganito rin ang babala ni Aquino sa kanyang sponsorship speech.

“Currently, 26.7 percent of Filipino children under five years old are stunted. Ibig sabihin po isa sa bawat apat na kabataan ay hindi naaabot ang kanilang tunay na potensyal,” pahayag ni Aquino.

Matapos ang mga sponsorship speech nitong Miyerkules, muling sinuspinde ang pagtalakay sa proposed Expanded National Nutrition Program Act hanggang sa muli itong maisama sa agenda sa mga susunod na sesyon.

Bam Aquino echoes Cayetano’s years-long push vs. child stunting

Senator Bam Aquino on Wednesday supported Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s long-standing push against child stunting, which Cayeatno has long warned not only affects children’s health but also contributes to the country’s learning crisis.

“Hindi po natin malulutas ang krisis sa edukasyon kung hindi po natin tututukan ang isa sa mga ugat nito: ang kakulangan sa nutrisyon,” Aquino said in his sponsorship speech for the proposed Expanded National Nutrition Program Act during the special session on June 17, 2026.

The measure seeks to address malnutrition and stunting through nutrition interventions at every life stage, from pregnancy to high school. It includes feeding programs for kindergarten to Grade 3, a universal health record to monitor each child’s growth, and direct local procurement from farmers and fisherfolk.

This covers the same crisis Cayetano has been single-handedly warning about in the Senate for more than two years, stressing that stunting leads to irreversible consequences such as impaired brain development, weakened immunity, poor academic performance, and reduced productivity. 

“Kung y’ung bata ay stunted, gaano man kaganda ang housing project mo, livelihood projects, or whatever, hindi ito makakapagbigay ng returns kasi once na stunted na, limited na ‘yong interventions na puwede,” he said during 2025 budget debates in November 2024. 

“Aanhin natin ang P6 trillion budget kung one-third, one-fourth, or one-fifth of your population is stunted or bansot?” he added.

He first raised the alarm during a Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) quarterly meeting in September 2023, after meeting with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam who pointed out the importance of investing in anti-stunting measures.

“He said the best return of investment, peso to peso, is in anti-stunting,” Cayetano said in 2023.

“You can have free and quality education, scholarships, and the best computers, pero ‘pag stunted ang bata, mahirap nang mai-correct iyon,” he added.

Since then, Cayetano has repeatedly urged fellow senators to allot a significant budget for a multi-agency nationwide program that will ensure proper nutrition of Filipino children during the first 1,000 days of life. He has also pushed for health centers in all barangays, giving priority to regions with high stunting prevalence like BARMM. 

He also filed a bill as early as July 2025 seeking to create an Anti-Stunting Action Plan (ASAP) Council to craft and implement a whole-of-government and whole-of-society roadmap to prevent, reduce, and ultimately end child stunting in the country. 

Despite these appeals, the 2026 national budget did not include the full-scale anti-stunting program Cayetano had sought, although it funded first 1,000 days-related cash grants under the 4Ps.

“Are we willing years from now, y’ung young adults natin, one out of four of them cannot reach their full potential because of this (stunting)? We need a specific intervention,” Cayetano said in December 2025.

A few months later, Aquino was flagging the same thing in his sponsorship speech.

“Currently, 26.7 percent of Filipino children under five years old are stunted. Ibig sabihin po isa sa bawat apat na kabataan ay hindi naaabot ang kanilang tunay na potensyal,” Aquino said.

After the sponsorship speeches on Wednesday, further deliberations on the proposed Expanded National Nutrition Program Act was suspended for a later date.

Bam Aquino sinuportahan ang matagal nang panawagan ni Cayetano kontra child stunting

Sinuportahan ni Senador Bam Aquino nitong Miyerkules ang ilang taon nang panawagan ni Senador Alan Peter Cayetano kontra child stunting o pagkabansot, na babala ni Cayetano ay hindi lang isang problema sa kalusugan kundi isa rin sa mga ugat ng learning crisis sa bansa.

“Hindi po natin malulutas ang krisis sa edukasyon kung hindi po natin tututukan ang isa sa mga ugat nito: ang kakulangan sa nutrisyon,” wika ni Aquino sa kanyang sponsorship speech para sa proposed Expanded National Nutrition Program Act sa special session noong June 17, 2026.

Layunin ng panukala na tugunan ang malnutrition at stunting sa pamamagitan ng mga programang pangnutrisyon sa bawat yugto ng buhay ng bata, mula sa pagbubuntis ng ina hanggang high school.

Kasama rito ang feeding programs para sa kindergarten hanggang Grade 3, universal health record kung saan susubaybayan ang paglaki ng bawat bata, at direktang pagbili ng mga gulay at isda mula sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda.

Tinutugunan ng panukala ang krisis na mahigit dalawang taon nang halos mag-isang binibigyang diin ni Cayetano sa Senado.

Giit ni Cayetano, “irreversible” at panghabambuhay ang mga epekto ng kondisyong ito sa mga bata, gaya ng hindi sapat na development ng utak, mahinang resistensya, mahinang performance sa eskuwela, at mas mababang productivity pagtanda.

“Kung y’ung bata ay stunted, gaano man kaganda ang housing project mo, livelihood projects, or whatever, hindi ito makakapagbigay ng returns kasi once na stunted na, limited na ‘yong interventions na puwede,” ani Cayetano sa budget debates noong November 2024.

“Aanhin natin ang P6 trillion budget kung one-third, one-fourth, or one-fifth of your population is stunted or bansot?” dagdag niya.

Unang ipinanawagan ni Cayetano ang agarang aksyon laban sa stunting sa quarterly meeting ng Second Congressional Commission on Education o EDCOM 2 noong Setyembre 2023, matapos makausap ang Presidente ng Singapore na si Tharman Shanmugaratnam na nagpunto sa kanya ng kahalagahan ng anti-stunting measures sa pag-unlad ng isang bansa.

“He said the best return of investment, peso to peso, is in anti-stunting,” ani Cayetano noong 2023.

“You can have free and quality education, scholarships, and the best computers, pero ‘pag stunted ang bata, mahirap nang mai-correct iyon,” dagdag niya.

Mula noon, paulit-ulit nang hinikayat ni Cayetano ang kapwa senador na maglaan ng malaking pondo para sa isang multi-agency at pambansang programa na titiyak sa tamang nutrisyon ng mga batang Pilipino sa kanilang first 1,000 days of life. Isinusulong din niya ang pagtatayo ng health centers sa lahat ng barangay, at iprayoridad dito ang mga rehiyong may mataas na kaso ng stunting gaya ng BARMM.

Noong July 2025, naghain din si Cayetano ng panukalang batas na lilikha sa isang Anti-Stunting Action Plan o ASAP Council na aatasang bumuo at magpatupad ng whole-of-government at whole-of-society roadmap para pigilan, bawasan, at tuluyang wakasan ang child stunting sa bansa.

Sa kabila ng mga panawagang ito, hindi naisama sa 2026 national budget ang malakawang anti-stunting program na isinusulong ni Cayetano, bagama’t may pondo para sa first 1,000 days-related cash grants sa ilalim ng 4Ps.

“Are we willing years from now, y’ung young adults natin, one out of four of them cannot reach their full potential because of this (stunting)? We need a specific intervention,” ani Cayetano noong December 2025.

Ilang buwan ang nakalipas, ganitong ganito rin ang babala ni Aquino sa kanyang sponsorship speech.

“Currently, 26.7 percent of Filipino children under five years old are stunted. Ibig sabihin po isa sa bawat apat na kabataan ay hindi naaabot ang kanilang tunay na potensyal,” pahayag ni Aquino.

Matapos ang mga sponsorship speech nitong Miyerkules, muling sinuspinde ang pagtalakay sa proposed Expanded National Nutrition Program Act hanggang sa muli itong maisama sa agenda sa mga susunod na sesyon.

Share This Post

alanpetercayetano.com

Copyright © 2025 Alan Peter Cayetano

Facebook Youtube

ALAN PETER CAYETANO

Facebook Youtube