“HEALTH is wealth” is a common saying emphasized in the Philippines especially during July — when Nutrition Month is celebrated. During this month, Filipinos actively promote health and wellness, aiming to teach Filipino students and families alike the importance of a healthy balanced diet. But behind this awareness lies the sad reality: proper nutrition is still inaccessible in the Philippines. 

One might ask, what solution did the National Nutrition Council (NNC) come up with? A month-long celebration filled with pageants and poster making contests? No, but rather, a campaign that aims to fight off malnutrition and obesity, especially for children. 

2025 Nutrition Month

“Sa PPAN: Sama-sama sa Nutrisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat!” is this year’s theme for nutrition month. The subtheme, “Food at Nutrition Security, Maging Priority! Sapat na Pagkain, Karapatan Natin!” aligns with the Presidential Decree No. 491 or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines, which promotes food security as a fundamental human right, not a privilege. The theme highlights the need for inclusive and collaborative efforts to make proper nutrition accessible to all, especially to the underprivileged. 

The campaign also aims to raise awareness about the vital role of nutrition in ending all forms of malnutrition and hunger — a problem that the Philippines has yet to overcome. As a developing country that continues to suffer from high inflation and unemployment, this results in poverty, a status that is tightly linked to malnutrition.  With this in mind, the campaign also aims to reinforce the call for healthy diets and food security as pillars of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028 and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028; Promote sustainable climate-resilient food systems, and mobilize multi-sectoral support among agencies like LGUs and NGOs. 

With these action plans, what are the latest statistics on the health and well-being of Filipino children? Let’s find out.

Proper nutrition still not secured

According to UNICEF Philippines (2024), the country is affected by the slow progress in health and nutrition. In the last decade, it deviated from Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 3, Good health and well-being, particularly in maternal and neonatal health. Due to a lack of primary health care, adolescents, pregnant women, and children alike experience triple burdens of childhood malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight and obesity. 

In UNICEF Philippines’ June 2025 news report, they reported that more than one in seven children under five in Calatrava and Don Salvador Benedicto, both from the Western Visayas region, experience being small for their age, also known as stunting due to the lack of nutrition that enters their system. 

Poverty plays a major role in child malnutrition. Minimum wage workers earn around P695.00 a day to support their families. However, due to the country’s inflating economy, some cannot afford to provide their families with a proper diet. The living wage of a family covers not only food but also other necessities such as electricity, education, etc. In a country where living is expensive, the minimum wage is most likely not enough to cover every basic need. 

Gawing Makulay muli ang Buhay! 

Lack of nourishment can lead to an imbalance in a child’s growth and a weak immune system. Children who experience malnutrition or improper healthy lifestyle can increase the risks of illness and impaired cognitive development. With the ongoing nutritional crisis many Filipinos experience, it seems that conquering the SDGs is beyond impossible with the current progress. 

Community services such as feeding programs can be helpful, especially for families who cannot afford to meet their own nutritional needs. But continuing this plan may not be sustainable in the long process. Instead, we must  advocate by volunteering in our local communities, partnering with LGUs to ensure proper knowledge, and becoming the voice of the voiceless. Only then the unseeable future may come into light after all. 

As we celebrate this  nutrition month, let us advocate for proper health accessibility for everyone. Gawing makulay muli ang buhay, bigyang halaga ang buhay ng bawat isa.