Children call attention on low budget for nutrition in LGUs

Through a documentary which run for eight minutes, children-film makers called attention on government's seemingly low regard for health and nutrition for children while it focuses more on infrastructure.

In a mini-documentary titled, "Tinimbang ka ngunit Kulang," the film maker asked parents from the community if they give milk to their children - one parent said, if there is money they give milk, although it is more often that they do not have enough money.

Some barangay officials when asked what they do for nutrition all replied, "feeding" (or the feeding program of government) as their response to malnutrition.

"There is a very limited budget on health," said a barangay official who was not identified. When asked for what is the bigger fund in the barangay, one replied: Infra.

Host for the documentary Richelle Jaropoy said that the local government almost always take the health and nutrition of children for granted.

She then appealed to focus their attention on kids who do not grow to their optimum height, who suffer oral health problems, and malnutrition.

One health official commented that it is the responsibility of parents to make sure that the children get proper health and nutrition and not just leave the care of their children to the government.

But parents insist that they do not earn enough, and the health and nutrition of their children for them, is just to feed them three times a day.

As a result, the weighing of children will always result to being underweight and undernourished. -PIA — ARA