ABSTRACT
Nutrition has been a major national concern in the Philippines since soon after World War II when the Philippine Association of Nutrition was founded. In 1974 the Philippine Nutrition Program launched Operation Timbang to systematically identify malnourished children. The first nationwide nutrition survey was conducted in 1978 by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the National Science Development Board. A second nationwide nutrition survey was conducted in 1982 by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute. In comparison with the 1978 survey, the 1982 survey showed a 4.8 percent reduction in the proportion of households whose energy level was below 80 percent of adequacy. The National Nutrition Council, which formulates the Food and Nutrition Plan, is the nation’s principal policy-making and coordinating body in nutrition. A review by the World Bank indicated widespread malnutrition in the Philippines. Under the guidance of the National Nutrition Council, the Philippine Nutrition Program coordinates all food assistance programs.
