MANILA, Nov. 25 -- Senators Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan on Tuesday underscored the urgent need to strengthen early-childhood nutrition and expand locally sourced feeding programs to address stunting among infants and young children.

During a joint Senate hearing of the Committees on Basic Education, Agriculture, Public Works, Ways and Means, and Finance, the lawmakers stressed that nutrition interventions must begin from pregnancy to age five, far earlier than existing school-based feeding programs.

Aquino said amendments to Republic Act 11037, or the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, must directly confront the country's alarming stunting rate.

Citing findings of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (...