27 November 2014 - The Philippines expressed solidarity with the rest of the world to find sustainable solutions to malnutrition at the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) held from November 19 to 21 in Rome, Italy.
Jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), in cooperation with the High Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis (HLTF), International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Food Policy Research Institute, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, World Bank, World Food Programme, and the World Trade Organization, ICN2 brought together national policymakers from agriculture, health and other relevant ministries and agencies from approximately 170 countries, including the Philippines.
Key messages were delivered by His Holiness Pope Francis, Queen Letizia of Spain, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, Italian Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Paolo Gentiloni, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan and FAO-UN Director-General José Graziano da Silva, among others. Also present at ICN2 were leaders of UN agencies, other inter-governmental organizations and members of civil society.
The Philippine delegation to ICN2 was headed by Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary and National Nutrition Council (NCC) Executive Director Maria-Bernardita T. Flores and composed of Ms. Maria Lourdes A. Vega, NCC Nutrition Policy and Planning Chief; Dr. Anthony Calibo, DOH Medical Specialist; Director Carlos Magnaye of Department of Agriculture (DA) Planning Service; Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva Second Secretary Arnel Talisayon; and officials of the Philippine Embassy in Rome.
With the theme, “Better Nutrition, Better Lives,” the high-level inter-governmental conference took stock of the progress made since ICN1 in 1992. Also discussed were ways to move the agenda forward of improving nutrition through a new policy framework in response to the complex challenges posed by changes in the global economy, food systems and developments in science and technology.
The Philippines committed to live up to the 2014 Rome Declaration on Nutrition and adapt the appropriate recommendations of the Framework for Action, ICN2’s two (2) main outcome documents. Like other countries, the Philippines is experiencing the double burden of malnutrition and high maternal and child mortality.
There is greater challenge for the Philippines as it is among the countries vulnerable to the effects of disasters and climate change. A year since the country was hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan, the Philippine Government continues efforts to rehabilitate and build back better, faster and safer communities. With this experience, the health and nutrition of those affected by disasters remain a key goal as those affected by disasters are among the nutritionally vulnerable, specifically, women, infants and young children.
The Philippines thanked the international community as the country strengthens the engagement of international and national stakeholders on disaster risk reduction and management. END