Chua, John Joseph R.

| 2014-30936
Ms Louise Jashil Sonido | ENG 10 THW3
Research Paper: Nutrition
27 November 2014
The States Dilemma of Financial Capability in Proper Nutrition
The existing problem of undernutrition in the Philippines is widespread. More and more
Filipino families are not able to acquire sufficient nutritional needs. While there are state efforts
that push for the attainment of proper nutrition among families, these efforts are impeded by
economic limitations and insufficient financial capability of many Filipino families. The
governments actions regarding the eradication of undernutrition are not insignificant, but
temporary. The Nutrition programs can be described as adaptive in nature as it address only the
current nutritional deficiencies or just provide the currently needed resources. If the Filipino
familys financial capability will be taken into account, permanent solutions to the problem of
undernutrition may be produced as the Filipino family may be able to support itself through its
own income.
The state action in the form of research on efficient ways of attaining proper Nutrition has
been a conquest since the past decades. An example is the Bataan Rice Enrichment experiment
led by Dr. Juan Salcedo, Jr., which is an answer to rice fortification and to beri-beri, the major
nutritional deficiency during the 1950s. The Rice Enrichment Act of 1952 resulted to this
research; it is also the Philippine governments response to the nutritional problems during that
time (FNRI, n.d). The organization of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (formerly
Institute of Nutrition) and administration of the National Nutrition Survey were the next actions
that the government took, which show the presence of nutritional awareness and the desire to

address the nutritional problems that the country faces. These measures developed by the
government are products of the continuous research on proper Nutrition.
The present existence of undernutrition in the country is what the acknowledgeable
government programs and procedures on Nutrition combats. Continuous research on weight and
height patterns, nutrient intake and technology on clinical nutrition are the foundations of the
programs that are in rigorous implementation by the governments Nutrition facilities. Although
it is already established that there state efforts in promoting proper Nutrition to eradicate
undernutrition, there is a factor that should be given emphasis on- the familys financial
capability.
Every year since 1991, the definition of the National Statistics Coordinating Board
(NSCB) of poverty threshold in pesos increases. Consequently, the inflation rate for all items in
the Philippines increases as well, which implies that there is a large possibility that more Filipino
families can be financially incapable of sustaining their needs. As determined by the annual per
capita poverty threshold of Php 18,000.00, 19% of the Filipino families are considered poor
(NSCB, 2012). In other words, one of every five Filipino families strives with only Php 50.00
per day. Inflation also plays its part in tightening the family budget. According to the NCSB
Statistics, the inflation rate has been increasing significantly since the past decade. This infers the
rise of item prices, which will create a substantial impact to the small income of Filipino
families.
The study aims to prove that undernutrition among Filipino families is mainly caused by
the Filipino familys inadequate financial capability. This paper also acknowledges the present
state action. It will recommend the programs that aid the insufficiency in the Filipino financial

capability to eliminate undernutrition. This study also aims to view undernutrition not only as a
biological problem, but as an economical problem as well. Through resolving this issue, light
will be shed on matters regarding what should be prioritized. A higher research regarding this
case may produce a full-detailed profile on the connection of the countrys nutrition status to its
families financial capabilities, which will be helpful in demographics and future studies in other
fields in nutrition.
The Hypothetical Family
For the convenience of this study, a hypothetical family is used to determine the nutrient
requirements to establish a direct relationship between the attainment of proper nutrition and
financial capability of the Filipino family. The father and mothers ages will be on the range of
30-49 years old. The ages are set in the range of the ages of the countrys working population.
Since job opportunities are usually open for the younger ages, the age group of 30-49 implies
that the individual is most probably in a stable job. There will be two children in the family, one
male and one female, both are under the 19-29 age group. This is based on the estimated age of a
Filipino woman during her first childbirth, which is 20-24 years old (NSCB, 2013). This
hypothetical family follows the Male Breadwinner Model, which men earn a family wage and
provide while wives do domestic labor and care for family members (Pascall, 2006).
The Definition of Proper Nutrition
The definition of proper Nutrition, like any other concept, changes over time. From
Sanctorius' publication De medicina statica aphorismi, a book that indicates the weight food the
author intakes and his excrements, to the Food for Thought advocacy of Louis Agassiz of
Harvard University and the introduction of diet by Charles Langworthy of the Office of

Experiment Stations. Proper nutrition is still unclearly defined but is usually centred in one goal:
for the possible protection against health issues and maintenance of a body that is physiologically
and mentally healthy (Lewis, 1955).
In the Philippines, attainment of proper Nutrition became defined through the
centralization of the Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake (RENI) during the 1960s (FNRI,
n.d). The RENI is an indispensable tool for nutritionists as it contains the numerical amount of
the right amount of nutrients one should take per day. It is important because it serves as a gauge
whether one has exceeded the adequate amount of a certain nutrient. Dr. Carmen L. Intengan led
the first attempts of this research on nutrient requirements, which were done on experimental
rats. Anthropometric standards were developed twenty years later, which determines whether an
individuals height and weight is still within the range of the ideal values. As years pass, new
nutritional deficiencies such as goiter gave new nutrient requirement values for iodine. Along
with this are state actions such as introduction of iodine to salt and other awareness programs are
developed. To sum up, the history of proper Nutrition research in the Philippines is composed of
nutritional deficiencies being answered to by research and research-based programs.
Annex A shows the required amount of energy an individual requires depending on his
population group, which is patterned to the RENI. Through the data from Annex A, we can
deduce that the hypothetical family needs 8,140 kilocalories of energy per day. This energy value
is needed for everyday work and may be obtained through servings of carbohydrates and fats. A
larger portion of carbohydrates in an individuals diet is preferred as it is ideal for maintaining
the right weight.

According to RENI values from the FNRI website, another requirement for attainment of
proper nutrition is the consumption of proteins. Protein level is defined as the lowest level of
dietary protein intake that will balance the losses of nitrogen from the body in persons
maintaining energy balance at modest levels of physical activity (WHO, 1985). This level of
protein is acquired through a computation from the required energy intake. This protein required
in grams is 35% of the energy requirement divided by a constant value of four. These values are
made constant by the FNRI. So, the value is at a range of 55-60 g per member.
Besides carbohydrates and proteins, vitamins and certain minerals are also required in the
Filipino diet. Vitamin C level requirements should be enough to maintain an acceptable serum
vitamin C levels in Filipino men and women. These values are made constant by the FNRI and
are located in the RENI table. The same goes for other vitamins to be discussed. The body needs
thiamine or Vitamin B1 as lack of the vitamin may cause health issues such as beriberi (FNRI,
2012). Natural loss of Vitamin B1 occurs through its usage for normal erythrocyte transketolase
(ETK) and through excretion in urination (FNRI, n.d). Riboflavin levels required are according
to the EG-AC or erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity levels. Niacin regulation is computed
through the level where the excretion of N'methyl nicotinamide does not reduce Niacin in
alarming levels. Folate, Calcium and Iron levels are listed in the RENI table. Iodine responds to
the daily excretion of 100 micrograms per liter of Iodine. The ample amount of Iodine is the
level where the excretion does not release too much stored iodine, which can make iodine levels
in the body in an unfavourable level. Water and electrolytes are also considered in the table. The
totality of the required vitamins and minerals for the individuals of the hypothetical family may
be seen at Annex B-1.

We can make required energy and vitamins estimations, which a family needs to be
properly nourished through the RENI.

In Numbeo.com, lists of the goods that can be

consumed to attain the necessary requirements are listed with their according prices, albeit the
estimates are from November 2012. By calculating the amount of nutrient in each food and the
required amount of each, we can estimate the price needed to attain their needs. These data can
be seen in Annex B-2.
Financial Capability and Nutrition
In 2012, the Philippines had a population of 96,706,800 persons (NSO, 2012). With the
definition of the hypothetical family in this study, we can estimate about 21, 430, 000 families all
over the country. According to the 2012 NSO Family Income and Expenditure Survey, the
average annual income of a family is Php 250, 000.00, which implies an approximation of Php
20,000.00 per month. The 2013 Philippine Financial Literacy Advocacy Report of SunLife
Financial estimates that a Filipino family uses 60% of its budget for food expenses. Hence, Php
12, 000.00 is the average amount a Filipino family allots for food.
We can compare this data to the amount needed to attain proper nutrition according to the
RENI. For our hypothetical family to be nourished properly, they need a monthly budget of Php
15, 450.00 for food. Since the income allotted for food of the hypothetical family is Php 12,000,
22% of the recommended value was not met by the financial capability. The data would suggest
that the Filipino families cannot meet the requirements for proper Nutrition; therefore, higher
chances of undernutrition are evident.

Factors Neglected on the Hypothetical Family and Possible Effects

In the country, there is an average of three children per woman in a family (PSA, 2010).
If this were the case in the hypothetical family, the monthly budget required will increase. It will
be harder to attain proper nutrition because there will be another individual that does not have
income that can contribute to the family. Php 155.00 per child will be added to the required
amount for proper nutrition per day, which is approximately Php 4500.00 per month. The family
with more children needs a larger amount of additional income to sustain its food needs
according to the definition of proper Nutrition.
The hypothetical family only works for the families which average income falls on the
categories described by the NSCB, but there are families beyond the lowest category. A concrete
example is a family below the poverty threshold of Php 18, 000.00 annual per capita income.
With the same situation as the hypothetical family but reducing the income variable, the required
food intake will be impossible to establish. In quantitative data, the Php 18, 000.00 implies Php
1,500.00 per month. This amount can only allow the family to meet the actual food intake
requirements for three days. In the Philippine context, varying degrees of poverty is evident.
Therefore, there are more combinations of factors that may be developed.
The occurrence of higher poverty rate is more evident in the southern parts of the
Philippines, like the regions of ARMM and CARAGA (NSCB, 2012). This reflects the
percentage of job opportunities and working force, as the levels of these in the said regions are
proportional to their poverty level. If a family in the southern part of the Philippines does not
have any members that work, there will be no income generated for any food requirement. The
action of such families is migration, to search for job opportunities in the metropolitan areas;

unfortunately, the families of Metropolitan Manila are not as self-sufficient as them either. Even
though there are more job opportunities present in the industries, the individuals cannot be
exempted from the effects of inflation, which is a problem of the Philippine macroeconomy. An
addition to this factor is the increasing population density, which makes the current resources
inadequate for all citizens.
Since income affects the attainment of proper nutrition and the abovementioned factors
can manipulate the net income in antagonistic ways, we can conclude that the problem of
undernutrition is not simply the lack of nutrients and improper food intake but a problem of
financial capability, sustenance, economic situations and social complications.
Undernutrition and State Action
Undernutrition is the result of improper nutrition or being in a state below or above the
normal rate in all aspects in nutrition such as metabolism and absorption of nutrients and affinity
to health issues due to lack of the recommended daily energy and vitamin intake. Severe states of
undernutrition are known to be unequivocal indices of heightened risk to health and life (Harris
et.al, 1990). It also stunts the physical and mental growth of humans (Belli, 1971). Increased
number of cases of undernutrition can increase mortality rate and exhibit unnecessary use of
national budget. As undernutrition generates risks to human health, levels of biological deaths
become higher. The state then acts by producing programs and procedures that eliminate
undernutrition, which costs money. If undernutrition exists in very low levels in the Philippines,
the funds to be used for eradicating it can be allotted to the other needs of the country.
According to a survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) amongst
Filipino respondents, from the period of June to December 2008 and from June to December of

2011, there was at least a 10% decrease in the number of underweight children from ages 0-5
years. During the period of study the occurrence of a height to weight ratio of less than the
average as standardized by the WHO showed no change to minimal change between the years
2008 and 2011. There was also a <2% change in the Body Mass Indices of the respondents
involved in the study, which further strengthens the previous data results. The reduced levels of
Undernutrition are the effects of the current state action, which are manifested as nutritional
programs and procedures. The presence of reduced levels shows two implications. First, the state
action is indeed eliminate[ing], if not, reduc[ing] undernutrition, as indicated in the Mission
statement of the Philippine Association of Nutrition (1947).
Generally, state actions are implemented under the Philippines Plan of Action for
Nutrition (PPAN) of 1994-2004. Programs such as the National Nutrition Education Program
(NNEP), Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems (FIVIMS) and
Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) are results of
continuous research on Nutrition. The NNEP spearheads the nutritional information
dissemination across the country. This includes nutrition education of schools and communities.
FIVIMS aims to provide a categorization of areas in the Philippines that experience food
insecurity and nutrition inadequacy. MELLPI ensures that programs that directly fight
undernutrition are implemented efficiently (NNC, n.d).
Programs such as the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program and Aksyon Para sa
Nutrisyon Program branch out to schools and remote communities to solve nutrition problems
such as hunger. These ensure that the people within communities consume the right kind of food
and in right amounts. The Barangay Nutrition Scholar aims to train people in a local area to be
the bridges of the community to the actual service providers through education regarding

nutrition from nutritionist-dieticians themselves (NNC, n.d). This solves the problem of the lack
of nutrition education in remote communities and may help in promoting nutrition.
However useful and promising these programs seem, the complication is the length of
time it consumes in implementation. The matter at hand is a matter of adaptation and mitigation.
These programs are adaptive measures that temporarily solve the problem of undernutrition. If
the rate of <2% decrease of incidents of undernutrition per three years continues, it will take 2030 years to significantly lessen the amount of undernutrition in the country. This rate neglects
other possible factors such as the incidence of economic deprivation and economic fluctuation.
The government should prioritize the programs that mitigate the problem of poverty. Poverty
branches out into many state difficulties, and undernutrition is one of them.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The states dilemma regarding financial capability on the attainment of proper Nutrition
is a manifold problem. The governments efforts for the Nutrition of the people are still
significant but the familys income plays a bigger role in proper Nutrition. Even though there is
continuous research on Nutrition and state actions, the fact that the Filipino family cannot sustain
its needs is a more vital factor to be considered. Government programs that aid the inadequate
financial capability should be prioritized as it can solve the problem of undernutrition in a longterm basis.
The problem on the inadequate Filipino family budget is a larger complication composed
of many complications. It can be a matter of population, job trends, wrong use of national funds,
and improper local government management. As already implied earlier, the budget left for food
becomes more and more inadequate as the number of children per family increases. If a family

has more mouths to feed, it will be harder for it to cover up its needs sufficiently. The Filipino
population is already growing in a steadfast rate. Because of this, Filipino families will have a
larger number of members. Job opportunities also play a role on poverty. The government should
exert more efforts on producing job vacancies to increase the working population. More jobs
imply more ways on having more income. An increased income per family can help in reducing
problems of insufficient resources. Other solutions include benefits for the currently employed
such as salary increase and health benefits for their families. The 2009 World Governance
Indicators study of the World Bank on the Philippines shows a stagnant rate of improvement on
the countrys control of corruption. This proves the governments weak grip on budget security.
If funds are secured and occurrences of corruption are decreased, more funds can be allocated for
poverty and undernutrition.
Overall, the matter at hand is a matter of adaptation and mitigation. Essentially,
mitigation cannot exist without the other. The government should not only adapt to the problem
of undernutrition but also mitigate the problem of poverty and low income. The implementation
of programs regarding Nutrition and dealing with the branched out complications of poverty can
significantly decrease the instances of undernutrition in the country. The eradication of
undernutrition is indeed a long-term and tedious process, but this problem still has solutions.
Overcoming the states dilemma of financial capability in proper Nutrition is an important and
significant step not only in the biological aspect of reducing undernutrition, but in economic and
social complications as well.

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