While the numbers are alarming, let’s pause for a moment to truly understand the faces behind

them. Take Mabel, a mother of two from Manila’s Happyland neighbourhood, whose family often
survives on “pagpag,” a dish made from discarded scraps of meat. “I want my children to be
health, but I don’t know how to feed them the right food when I barely have enough for rice,” she
says. Mabel’s reality is not an isolated case. Across the country, families are struggling to put
healthy food on the table. They face difficult choices—buy cheap, processed food that fill the
stomach but offers little nutritional value, or skip meals altogether.

This situation is un-acceptable. It's not just a statistic; it’s a moral failing. We can no longer look
away while millions of children in the Philippines suffer. Malnutrition, stunted growth, and a lack
of the nutrients needed for cognitive development are impacting not only their health but their
future.

A closer look reveals that children in the Philippines are trapped in a cycle of food poverty.
According to UNICEF, children who consume fewer than three food groups per day are
considered to be living in severe food poverty. In many households, children are fed rice, milk,
and starchy foods, but essential food groups like fruits, vegetables, and proteins are scarse.
This leads to severe malnutrition and impaired cognitive development, further entrenching the
cycle of poverty.

Why does this crisis persist? It’s a multifaceted problem. While food insecurity is widespread,
the root causes are tied to the broader context of global food systems, income inequality, and
the long-term effects of climate change. Local food systems are struggling to keep up with the
needs of growing populations. In the Philippines, income poverty is a major driver of food
insecurity—46% of children in severe food poverty live in poor households. The government has
made efforts, but the lack of systemic change is clear. Meanwhile, climate change exacerbates
issues like droughts and flooding, which disrupt food production and further limit the availability
of affordable, nutritious options.

But this isn’t just a problem in the pinesPhilip—it’s a global issue. The increasing rates of food
insecurity and malnutrition worldwide show that food systems are broken and need urgent
reform. As individuals, we all have a role to play. The question is: what can we do to help
change this dire situation?

First, we need to demand better food systems. Nutritious, diverse foods need to be affordable
and accessible for every family, not just the privileged few. The government must prioritise
transforming food systems, focusing on sustainable agriculture and fair food distribution to
ensure that healthy food is available to all.
There are also tangible steps that you can take today. You can support local organizations
working on the ground to provide nutrition assistance. You can write to government
representatives and advocate for policies that prioritise food security. We must also push for
systemic changes, such as expanding social protection programs and investing in sustainable,
nutritious food sources for the poorest families.

International aid and cooperation must continue to support programs like the UNICEF-led Child
Nutrition Fund. The international community must help fund sustainable nutrition programs,
focusing on countries like the Philippines that are struggling with food poverty.

Moreover, we must challenge the food environment. Public education campaigns must shift the
focus from unhealthy, processed foods to the importance of a balanced, nutritious diet. Parents
need support in making better choices for their families. Healthy eating habits must be promoted
widely, not just in the wealthy neighbourhoods but across all communities.

This is an urgent call to action. We cannot afford to wait while millions of children grow up
without the nourishment they need to succeed. Together, we can ensure that no child in the
Philippines—or anywhere else—has to face the harsh reality of hunger. The time to act is now.

In the Philippines, one in two children face the harsh reality of food insecurity. The latest report
from the Food and Agriculture Organization (PAO) reveals that 44.7% of the population are
grappling with moderate or severe food insecurity, a statistic that highlights the growing divide
between the rich and the poor. Even more alarming, the United Narcissist International
Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reports that 29% of children in the Philippines are
stunted, unable to grow at the proper rate due to lack of prober nutrition. But this isn't just about
hunger—it's a crisis where children are paying the price.
Oh My Guts! Full of Scraps, But Surviving!

In the Philippines, one in two children face the harsh reality of food insecurity. The latest report
from the Food and Agriculture Organization (PAO) reveals that 44.7% of the population are
grappling with moderate or severe food insecurity, a statistic that highlights the growing divide
between the rich and the poor. Even more alarming, the United Narcissist International
Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reports that 29% of children in the Philippines are
stunted, unable to grow at the proper rate due to lack of prober nutrition. But this isn't just about
hunger—it's a crisis where children are paying the price.

This situation is un-acceptable. It's not just a statistic; it’s a moral failing. We can no longer look
away while millions of children in the Philippines suffer. Malnutrition, stunted growth, and a lack
of the nutrients needed for cognitive development are impacting not only their health but their
future.

While the numbers are alarming, let’s pause for a moment to truly understand the faces behind
them. Take Mabel, a mother of two from Manila’s Happyland neighbourhood, whose family often
survives on “pagpag,” a dish made from discarded scraps of meat. “I want my children to be
health, but I don’t know how to feed them the right food when I barely have enough for rice,” she
says. Mabel’s reality is not an isolated case. Across the country, families are struggling to put
healthy food on the table. They face difficult choices—buy cheap, processed food that fill the
stomach but offers little nutritional value, or skip meals altogether.

A closer look reveals that children in the Philippines are trapped in a cycle of food poverty.
According to UNICEF, children who consume fewer than three food groups per day are
considered to be living in severe food poverty. In many households, children are fed rice, milk,
and starchy foods, but essential food groups like fruits, vegetables, and proteins are scarse.
This leads to severe malnutrition and impaired cognitive development, further entrenching the
cycle of poverty.

Why does this crisis persist? It’s a multifaceted problem. While food insecurity is widespread,
the root causes are tied to the broader context of global food systems, income inequality, and
the long-term effects of climate change. Local food systems are struggling to keep up with the
needs of growing populations. In the Philippines, income poverty is a major driver of food
insecurity—46% of children in severe food poverty live in poor households. The government has
made efforts, but the lack of systemic change is clear. Meanwhile, climate change exacerbates
issues like droughts and flooding, which disrupt food production and further limit the availability
of affordable, nutritious options.

But this isn’t just a problem in the pinesPhilip—it’s a global issue. The increasing rates of food
insecurity and malnutrition worldwide show that food systems are broken and need urgent
reform. As individuals, we all have a role to play. The question is: what can we do to help
change this dire situation?
First, we need to demand better food systems. Nutritious, diverse foods need to be affordable
and accessible for every family, not just the privileged few. The government must prioritise
transforming food systems, focusing on sustainable agriculture and fair food distribution to
ensure that healthy food is available to all.

Moreover, we must challenge the food environment. Public education campaigns must shift the
focus from unhealthy, processed foods to the importance of a balanced, nutritious diet. Parents
need support in making better choices for their families. Healthy eating habits must be promoted
widely, not just in the wealthy neighbourhoods but across all communities.

There are also tangible steps that you can take today. You can support local organizations
working on the ground to provide nutrition assistance. You can write to government
representatives and advocate for policies that prioritise food security. We must also push for
systemic changes, such as expanding social protection programs and investing in sustainable,
nutritious food sources for the poorest families.

International aid and cooperation must continue to support programs like the UNICEF-led Child
Nutrition Fund. The international community must help fund sustainable nutrition programs,
focusing on countries like the Philippines that are struggling with food poverty.

This is an urgent call to action. We cannot afford to wait while millions of children grow up
without the nourishment they need to succeed. Together, we can ensure that no child in the
Philippines—or anywhere else—has to face the harsh reality of hunger. The time to act is now.

Answer Key with Explanations:

Spelling Errors (40)

1. face → faces
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement; "children" is plural.
2. are → is
Explanation: "Population" is singular, so it needs a singular verb.
3. lack of prober → lack of proper
Explanation: "Proper" is the correct word for the context, meaning suitable or adequate.
4. un-acceptable → unacceptable
Explanation: "Unacceptable" is one word, not hyphenated.
5. pinesPhili → Philippines
Explanation: Name change as requested.
6. neighbourhood → neighborhood
Explanation: American English spelling (inconsistent with article's style).
7. health → healthy
Explanation: Correct adjective form to describe "children."
8. fill → fills
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement.
9. scarse → scarce
Explanation: Correct spelling of "scarce."
10. prioritiSe → prioritiZe
Explanation: Use American English spelling, i.e., "z" instead of "s."
11. programs → programmes
Explanation: British spelling (this was kept for consistency).
12. organisations → organizations
Explanation: American spelling of "organizations."
13. priorities → prioritiSe
Explanation: Consistency in spelling.
14. reprezentatives → representatives
Explanation: Correct spelling of "representatives."
15. cogitative → cognitive
Explanation: Cognitive is the correct term referring to brain function.
16. globalised → globalized
Explanation: American English spelling.
17. neighbours → neighbors
Explanation: Standardize to American English spelling.
18. scrapd → scraps
Explanation: Correct plural form.
19. transformatoin → transformation
Explanation: Typo in spelling.
20. disproves → proves
Explanation: Incorrect verb form.
21. rounds → reduces
Explanation: Meaning change.
22. soloution → solution
Explanation: Typo.
23. childten → children
Explanation: Typo.
24. logisticalised → logistical
Explanation: Incorrect addition.
25. processd → processed
Explanation: Typo.
26. malnutrtions → malnutrition
Explanation: Typo in spelling.
27. lead → leads
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement.
28. consumes → consumed
Explanation: Past tense for consistency.
29. couldnt → couldn't
Explanation: Apostrophe missing.
 30. compromizes → compromises
Explanation: Spelling mistake.
31. PAO → FAO
Explanation: Spelling mistake.
32. United Narcissist International Children's Emergency Fund → United Nations
International Children's Emergency Fund
Explanation: The acronym of UNICEF is incorrect.

Structural Errors (15)

1. "While the numbers are alarming..." → "While alarming, the numbers..."

Explanation: Shifting the structure makes the sentence smoother and less repetitive.
2. "This situation is unacceptable" → "The situation is unacceptable."
Explanation: "This" is too vague and does not add necessary detail.
3. "across the country" → "across the nation"
Explanation: Consistency in terminology.
4. "Families are struggling..." → "Families struggling..."
Explanation: Remove the passive voice for a stronger sentence.
5. "This leads to severe malnutrition" → "This results in severe malnutrition"
Explanation: Using "results" better ties the cause to the consequence.

Grammar Errors (15)

1. “I want my children to be health” → “I want my children to be healthy”

Explanation: Incorrect adjective form.
2. "when I barely have enough for rice" → "when I barely have enough rice."
Explanation: Unnecessary phrasing; simplifies sentence.
3. "malnutrition and impair cognitive development" → "malnutrition, which impairs
cognitive development"
Explanation: Adding “which” introduces the cause-and-effect clearly.
4. “while millions of children grow up without” → “while millions of children are
growing up without”
Explanation: Present continuous tense for an ongoing situation.