20/05/2026
National Nutrition Council (NNC) reaffirms the importance of the First 1000 Days (F1K)
๐ก๐ก๐'๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ฎ'๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐, โ๐ง๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐: ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐"
National Nutrition Council (NNC) reaffirms the importance of the First 1000 Days (F1K) in the prevailing education crisis as stated in the findings of the 2025 Final Report entitled โTurning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reformsโ by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).
Whenever the child is deprived of adequate nutrition during F1K, from conception to the child's second birthday, it can lead to stunting, a chronic type of malnutrition that causes irreversible physical and cognitive damage when left untreated. Stunted children entering school have a high chance of becoming poor learners with low literacy and comprehension, hindering the potential of achieving optimum learning.
Being the country's policy-making body on nutrition, NNC is proactive in creating high-impact and cost-effective interventions targeting F1K, guided by Republic Act 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act and the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028. Through RA 11148, NNC's mandate has been redefined, combating malnutrition in F1K.
Several mandates of RA 11148 stated that the NNC, together with the Department of Health (DOH) and other government agencies, is tasked with implementing the F1K-related nutrition program. A comprehensive sustainable strategy for the first 1000 days of life to address health, nutrition, and developmental problems affecting infants, young children and adolescent females, and pregnant and lactating women must be developed by the NNC, DOH, national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and stakeholders in scaling up health and nutrition for the F1K. Further, DOH and NNC, in coordination with LGUs, shall provide practical and effective training courses to BNSs, BHWs, and other personnel concerned to upgrade their skills and competencies in the implementation of the services and interventions for health and nutrition of women and children. NNC and other concerned NGAs shall provide appropriate technical assistance to their respective LGU counterparts, integrating maternal, neonatal, child health and nutrition programs in their local nutrition action plans and investment plans for health.
NNC has remodeled itself as an implementing agency through its Tutok Kainan Dietary Supplementation Program, in which provision of nutrient-dense commodities is given to nutritionally at-risk pregnant women and children aged 6-23 months old as a means of improving birth outcomes and preventing stunting. The program is in partnership with the local government unit to ensure human and logistic support to carry out the services effectively to the targeted individuals. Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte, the province beneficiaries of the TKDSP program, reported significant improvement in nutrition outcomes.
Despite the agency's challenges, NNC has continuously promoted and advocated for the program's implementation. Campaigns across various media and channels were sustained, including the intensified social and behavior change and LGU mobilization activities in maternal and early childhood nutrition, leading to exemplary nutrition governance and program management.
NNC acknowledges EDCOM II's observations regarding gaps in interagency coordination and implementation challenges under R.A. No. 11148 and R.A. No. 11037 (Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act). The Council has initiated reforms aligned with the EDCOM II's recommendations, namely, development and enhancement of a National Nutrition Information System (NNIS) and Nutrition Management Information System (NMIS), in response to its mandate per R.A. No. 11037, strengthening program convergence and budgeting coordination for nutrition and school feeding programs and multistakeholder collaboration through the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN).
With the recommendations raised by EDCOM II in reinforcing NNC's mandate and accountability mechanisms for joint planning across NGAs, the agency is advocating for three key reforms: establishment of a nutrition office with an adequate staffing pattern at the local level (provincial, city and municipal level), development of the First 1000 Days strategy and updating and strengthening of NNC's legal frameworks, such as Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1569 and review of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 11148.
Sustainability means continued support and investments in nutrition. Initiatives of all agencies, LGUs, development partners, the private sector, and the academe must be anchored to the PPAN 2023-2028. Prioritizing in F1K is a foundation of an equitable education system that would lead to a highly productive workforce and fulfill the ultimate national goal of achieving "Nutrisyong Sapat, Para sa Lahat."
๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ: https://tinyurl.com/NNCPressRelease-EDCOMReport
