Philippines has

related diseases

crisis

on

lifestyle-

By Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star) | Updated July 10, 2015 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is in a crisis of lifestyle-related noncommunicable diseases (NCD) of unheralded extent, the countrys top scientists and
academicians declared yesterday.
In a resolution issued at the end of the 37th Annual Scientific Meeting at the Manila
Hotel, the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) said the crisis of NCDs
killed as many as 300,000 Filipinos in 2012, citing data from the World Health
Organization (WHO).
The number of deaths is more than any single disaster, calamity or epidemic seen
before, the NAST resolution noted.
The NAST called for the creation of a National Commission for the Prevention and
Control of Non-Communicable Diseases under the Office of the President, which will be in
charge of developing and overseeing societal strategies for the prevention and control of
non-communicable diseases.
These diseases include stroke, heart attack, cancer and chronic lung disease, the
group said.
NCDs have invaded us quietly and imperceptibly in the past few decades Unless
something is done, hundreds of thousands will continue to die unnecessarily each year,
at huge economic and social cost, it said.
The NAST, headed by former science and technology secretary William Padolina,
said the proposed commission should be composed of selected Cabinet officials from
pertinent departments, lawmakers, academicians, scientists, local government leaders
and civil society or private sector representatives.
The commission will analyze and provide oversight of existing policies, law, plans
and programs that may have an adverse impact on lifestyle. It will also take charge of
the development of a research agenda for the development and continuous assessment
of strategies that promote a healthy lifestyle and formulate recommendations for new
policies and legislation if necessary.

NAST said implicated lifestyle include smoking, consumption of unhealthy food and
inadequate physical inactivity.
While lifestyle is generally regarded as a choice made by individuals, there is
overwhelming scientific evidence that choices are heavily influenced by the
environment, it added.
People consume unhealthy food because unhealthy food is cheaper,
advertisements surround us and food establishments allow no choice. People dont
engage in sufficient physical activity because there is little access to open space, and no
opportunities for non-motorized transport, it said.
The prevalence of smoking is high because tobacco is cheap, and we are flooded
with promotional materials at an early age, it noted.

Malnutrition
Meanwhile, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara has filed a resolution to look into the
unchanging patterns of malnutrition in the country and determine how to improve the
nutritional wellbeing of Filipinos.
In his resolution, Angara cited the 2013 Food and Nutrition Research Institute
(FNRI)s National Nutrition Survey, which showed that 19.9 percent of children under five
years are underweight, 30.3 percent stunted and 7.9 percent wasted.
For children aged five to 10, the 2013 FNRI survey showed that 29.1 percent are
underweight, 29.9 percent stunted and 8.6 percent wasted.
Under Senate Bill 202, the National Nutrition Council, Department of Health and
Department of Education are mandated to initiate, maintain and expand a system of
distribution of milk, fortified snacks and supplements to public elementary school
entrants.
The most effective means to combat child hunger and malnutrition is through the
public school network where we could target children who belong to poorer families,
Angara said.
Angara said food and nutrition security requires a multi-sectoral approach. There
are more than 20 government agencies with no single lead agency that ensures that
nutritious food is accessible to the Filipino people, he said.
He also called on the government and other stakeholders to take a more concerted
effort in addressing food insecurity and eradicating hunger in the country.
The proposed measure provides for a framework law that will help strengthen food
programs and coordinate government action to achieve zero hunger in 10 years.

Angara urged the government to ensure food and nutrition security, given the
higher risk of hunger and malnutrition due to natural disasters. With Christina
Mendez