Economics, Politics

Unfortunately, food security

especially among the poor, has been
weakened primarily by restrictive
trade policies and low farm
productivity and income.

Restrictive trade policies in rice

could well be the underlying reason
why levels of malnutrition have been
substantially higher in the
Philippines.

The governments goal of 100% rice

self-sufficiency has led to domestic
rice prices far exceeding world prices
and up to twice the levels paid by
consumers in other ASEAN countries.

It accounts for more than a third (33%

in 2012) of the total food expenditure
of the bottom quintile; the single
biggest source of energy and protein
at 34% compared to fish (14%), pork
(9%), and poultry (6%); and the
biggest contributor to per capita
availability of calories at 46%
compared to sugar (8%), wheat (7%),
and pork (7%).

Food availability is slightly

improving but we arent productive
Hunger has fallen across all income
groups since 2007.

Growth in farm labor and wages is slow

Society
Weak accountability

Accountability for ending hunger and

malnutrition is too dispersed to make
a difference in practice. A strong
push by government to exact
accountability is considered likely to
increase awareness of the hunger and
malnutrition problem and heighten
prioritization of solutions.

For instance, local officials in areas

with stagnant or even worsening
indicators in their jurisdictions
might be spurred to invest in FSN
programs to get better results, while
veering from the business as usual
approach.

Likewise, at the national level,

agency heads might be moved to align
their sectoral goals if they are made
accountable for their contribution to
solving the overall problem of
worsening hunger and malnutrition.

Many Filipinos who have the power to

change things are not aware of the
problem

Environment
Hunger and malnutrition in the
Philippines is further compounded by
frequent natural disasters, which
disproportionately affects already
poor and vulnerable populations such
as coastal and upland communities, as
well as the urban poor.

The World Risk Index ranks the

Philippines as the second most at-risk
country in terms of potential impacts
of climate change.
Climate impacts are magnifying the
risks and vulnerabilities that already
af ict Philippine agriculture and food
production as well as the vulnerable
and marginalized families and
individuals. These impacts are
projected to become more pronounced by
2050 and beyond.

Relative to the magnitude of the

problem, resources for addressing
hunger and malnutrition have been
inadequate, and much of those that are
available so far have not been placed
in high-impact programs.

More on the environment

Reduced rainfall and extended dry

periods lower water levels in
watersheds and reservoirs, thus limit
irrigation services and energy
production. Lack of water compromises
crop productivity.
Crop yields decline when temperatures
exceed threshold values, in some cases
resulting in spikelet sterility (as in
rice).

Fish migrate to cooler and deeper

waters, altering the location and size
of shore grounds and possibly
increasing the cost and hazards.

Temperature increases, together with

rainfall changes, affect the incidence
of pests and diseases of plants,
animals, and people

Implications
What does this mean for our current
situation and the future?

Malnutrition, especially among

children, is strongly linked with
higher rates of disease and premature
death.

It also has adverse effects on crucial

stages of child development, leading
to cognitive and behavioral deficits,
learning disability, and ultimately to
an uncompetitive workforce.

The definition underscores the multi-

dimensionality of food security,
including the interaction between food
systems, nutrition, and health

Hunger forces households into debt.

If we do fix it, what can happen in

the future?

The Philippines seeks to end hunger

and all forms of malnutrition by 2030.

This is a commitment that the country

made during the adoption of the global
2030 Sustainable Development Agenda,
which involves attaining, where
applicable,

17 sustainable development goals (SDG)

and accompanying 169 targets during
the United Nations General Assembly in
September 2015.
Specifically, SDG No. 2 targets, by
2030, the end of hunger and ensuring
access by all people, in particular
the poor and people in vulnerable
situations, including infants, to
safe, nutritious and sufficient food
all year round; as well as the end of
all forms of malnutrition.

ECONOMICS, POLITICS