ANGARA URGES PINOYS: EAT MORE VEGETABLES,
BEAT CHILD MALNUTRITION

Alarmed of recent studies showing high malnutrition incidence among Filipino children, Sen. Edgardo Angara urges the country to "return to our vast abundance of vegetables" to beat child malnutrition--something he refers to as the society's silent killer. The launch of his advocacy campaign tagged as OMG! (Oh My Gulay!) encourages a healthy, inexpensive diet of fruits and vegetables.

This is in response to a World Bank report that the mortality rate for Filipino babies below 5 is three times higher in poor families; and 31% of pre-school children are malnourished, diminishing their skills development and hampers their learning process. In the campaign, Sen. Angara strongly encourages parents to increase servings of vegetables such as malunggay, kalabasa, sitaw, tomatoes, cassava and corn to their children, and calls on Filipinos to eat vitamin- and mineral-rich crops as the most cost-effective solution to child malnutrition.

Sen. Angara believes that not only is hunger a threat to our lives, but also impedes child growth and overall socio-economic development. He stresses, "Without proper health, children are unable to realize their development potentials. Eventually, without a physically and mentally strong workforce, there will be little opportunities for productivity and economic growth. There will be no solid foundation on which the nation would stand."

"Good health remains not only one the most basic goals of humanity and all societies in the world; it is a lifelong process beginning in childhood. This campaign takes extensive awareness and call-to-action against the threats of hunger and malnutrition to our children. It is my moral obligation as policymaker to address the issue of child malnutrition in the country," admits Sen. Angara, former Chair of the Senate Committee on Health.

Taking inspiration from highly-successful awareness campaigns such as ONE.org and Al Gore's The Inconvenient Truth, OMG! encourages diversified diet that includes high intake of fruits and vegetables. The campaign includes print, music, outdoor, TV, DVD and online media content.

Sen. Angara concludes, "It is my hope that this campaign will make a more lasting impact on the people, and will illicit the response to effect on better child health for Filipinos. Promoting health and nutrition is promoting public good. Supporting this cause is one of the noblest, most worthwhile endeavors for nation-building, particularly for our children."